Creates more than Oscar: Should Liverpool target this versatile forward?

Salomon Kalou (L)

As we approach December the inevitable speculation regarding January transfer moves returns (did it ever go away?) and clubs will start to be linked to players that could perhaps make the difference to their side.

It may, therefore, seem surprising to see former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou linked with a move back to the Premier League, less than two years after leaving the Blues.

It would be safe to say that Kalou failed to set Stamford Bridge alight. A player with promising potential in his early days at the club, he was a source of constant frustration for the Chelsea faithful. His contract was not renewed at the end of the 2011/12 season and he moved to France, swapping places with Chelsea bound Eden Hazard at Lille.

Kalou Total Goals Scored 2012/13

Last season, he finished with 14 goals in 28 appearances, a very respectable return. This season though, whilst Lille have flourished, Kalou has floundered. He has scored just three goals in 14 appearances in the league, a ratio of lower than one in four.

His chance conversion rate is down to just 11% and with Lille losing both Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin to Marseille over the summer it is disappointing to see Kalou fail to perform. There is so much more responsibility on him this year because of their departures and he has failed to deliver.

It is not just his lack of goals or composure in front of goal though, it is the sense that he is never going to be able to perform consistently. On his day he is a terrifying prospect, he is quick, direct and able to pick a killer pass at pace. The problem is that he doesn’t have days like this often enough, in a much similar vein to Rennes’ Jonathan Pitroipa.

His Performance Score of 51 is the 14th highest at the club, a poor effort for a player who has featured more than any other outfield player (apart from Rio Mavuba). Only Florent Balmont has created more chances (18) than Kalou but to be honest that is to be expected when the Ivorian plays in such an advanced position, the return of just one assist is what is particularly disappointing. In terms of the Premier League, he has created the same amount of chances as Kyle Walker, the league’s 18th most creative player. Furthermore, he has created more than Chelsea’s Oscar (17).

Considering Liverpool’s strength in attacking positions the signing of Kalou just wouldn’t make sense. With Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Phillipe Coutinho, Victor Moses (for the season) and Iago Aspas there, perhapps Kalou is not a vitality. However, could his flexibility and experience be useful for Liverpool?