A flash of blue darted inside from the left of the Wembley turf. Within an instant Joe Hart was crouched, motionless, facing the ball that was nestled in his net, the result of a bludgeoning drive. Yevhen Konoplyanka had announced himself to an English audience , with a typical performance of dynamism, ingenuity and the unexpected. The match, a European World Cup qualifier, ended 1-1, but the impression had been made.
Now Liverpool, in Brendan Rodgers’ search to guarantee the return of Champions League football to Anfield, are seeking to prize away Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk’s 24-year-old winger for around £16million.
Background
Born in the central Ukrainian city of Kirovohrad, a former Soviet leader in agriculture and light industry, Konoplyanka’s first taste of football was with local side Olimpik Kirovohrad, before moving to Dnipro at the age of 16.
A perhaps premature debut followed in 2007, with the youngster’s first goal in the white and blue of Dnipro not coming until 2010. But from then on the scouts began circling, with the secret of his talent readily exposed by the strike at Wembley.
Now, though, with Juande Ramos’ Dnipro project failing to make significant, tangible gains, it seems clear that Konoplyanka has outgrown the Ukrainian domestic game. Paris Saint Germain had been touted as potential suitors, though Liverpool now appear to be the front-runners.
He’s The New…
As a pacey, agile winger, capable of filling each of the three attacking midfield roles in the now ubiquitous 4-2-3-1, Liverpool might hope Konoplyanka is their Mohammed Salah, after failing to make Salah their actual Salah.
The pursuit of a multi-talented, multi-purpose wide player seems to be Brendan Rodgers’ order of the day. The 24-year-old Ukrainian has the talent and the adaptability to fulfil those wishes, reminiscent of the close control and the improvisational ability of Eden Hazard, yet with some developing needed to reach that very high level.
Strengths
Konoplyanka, as might be expected of a modern inside forward, finds his greatest strength in the ability to soar past defenders at speed, whilst remaining in close control of the ball. Continually through matches, the opposing right-back, and most of the spectators, seem to know that a dart inside is inevitably about to occur. But difference between knowing Konoplyanka’s course of action, and being able to stop it is often deadly for a defender.
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In comparison to his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Yarmolenko, the Dnipro player has more footballing intelligence, aware of where his teammates and the opposition’s defenders are, allowing for a range of assists and cute passes as well as goals.
In terms of an attacking modern winger, Konoplyanka has all the necessary attributes.
Weaknesses
For Liverpool fans the signs are good. Konoplyanka doesn’t possess any obvious weaknesses that would hamper a modern creative player in the English Premier League. Yet, with Jose Mourinho’s conspicuous treatment of Juan Mata, seemingly discarded for a lack of pressing ability and defensive output, there is a growing narrative on attacking players being able to contribute in the defensive phase of play.
The only question mark, therefore, is whether Konoplyanka would be able to adapt quickly to the physical demands of the Premier League and perhaps a different style of play, should Liverpool continue with a variation of the 4-4-2 that saw Everton defeated. With a player as talented as the Ukrainian, this adaptation should only be a matter of time, yet with all January deals, adjustment is made more difficult without a pre-season.
How Will He Fit Into His New Team?
Where the Dnipro player will fit into Rodgers’ Liverpool system depends entirely on the system that Rodgers wants to play. Through a season of tactical elasticity, Liverpool have adopted variations of 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.
Konoplyanka may favour the latter two of those three systems, allowed a wide left berth without the added defensive responsibilities that wingers usually have to take up if two strikers are on the field. If Rodgers decides to incorporate a number 10 into the system, the Ukrainian could also fulfil that role, interchanging well with Coutinho and Suarez.
Whilst Liverpool might not necessarily ‘need’ another winger, the chance to sign the foremost Ukrainian player of his generation should not be discarded lightly.
Did You Know?
From the age of seven, the young Yevhen took up karate alongside his love for football. Evidently a little terrier, Konoplyanka progressed to black belt, meaning that should Suarez decide to turn his biting tendencies on his own team, the Ukrainian will be ready to deal with him.
My worry JS is that these players are great when teams are defending high but we struggle (more) against those back lines that won't advance off the edge of the box. I agree it really doesn't seem like the area that we should be gunning for a player (does Sterling really deserve to be dropped right now?) but I guess we get what we're given eh 
I'd rather sign someone than no one as long as he's improving us somewhere.
