Rennes midfielder Sylvain Marveaux has been linked with a move to Liverpool since the end of last year. This weekend, the 24-year-old claimed that he was 'very close' to signing an agreement to join Kenny Dalglish at Anfield this summer.
The former France under-21 international is valued at £7 million but is out of contract at the end of the season.
Goal.com's Ligue 1 expert Robin Bairner shares his insight into the player who might well be playing in front of the Kop next year.
Can he succeed in England?
Players coming out of Ligue 1 tend to be fairly well suited for the Premier League because they are used to playing in a physical environment on a regular basis, so Marveaux would stand a good chance of adapting to life in England. He has been compared before to Florent Malouda. He's technical and strong, but above all, he's quick and powerful. These are all attributes that would suggest he can be successful in England.
How important is he for Rennes?
Marveaux is a player that could potentially be very important to Rennes, but injuries have really prevented him from developing into a top star for them. Indeed, he's not played for Frederic Antonetti's men since the winter break due to a hamstring complaint. Marveaux started the season by picking up a problem on the opening day, but after a month out he became a central figure in the club's positive form. A groin problem in November has ended his season, with only 10 games played and one goal scored. In truth, Rennes have already learned to live without him, with players such as Yacine Brahimi and Jires Kembo-Ekoko - raw but exciting - coming through their ranks.
International class?
He has played for the French under-21 side but is now 24 and is yet to make his debut for the national team. Quite simply, it is because of injuries. He's always been susceptible to strains, missing the European under-19 championships in 2005 due to knee ligament damage. This unwelcome characteristic was most notable during 2008-09, when he missed virtually the whole campaign due to a torn hamstring, playing only the first two games and three of the last four. Though he was highly impressive when he was on the field, clearly his long-term development was hampered, harming his potential to play at the very top level. His natural flair and physical attributes are enough to get by in the domestic game, but with more reliable options out there, he's not been drafted into the France squad yet. Could he be in the future? Potentially, but he'd have to stay fit.
The decent crosser that Liverpool need?
While Marveaux is a wide player, he's featured mainly as one of new breed of wingers who like to be played on the opposite flank, allowing them to cut inside and shoot. Marveaux's skills tend to be in beating players rather than providing quality into the box from a wide area.
Interesting facts?
His brother is Joris, a central midfielder for Montpellier. He played with Yoann Gourcuff in Rennes' youth academy.
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