---
title: "Teammate Jumps To Defence Of Reported Liverpool Target Jeremy Doku"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/jeremy-doku-teammate-offers-staunch-defence-form-rennes/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2020-12-03T17:00:06Z"
modified: "2020-12-03T17:00:06Z"
---

# Teammate Jumps To Defence Of Reported Liverpool Target Jeremy Doku

Long-time [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/12/03/liverpool-fans-go-crazy-over-harvey-elliott-wonder-goal/) target [Jeremy Doku](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/11/27/former-liverpool-target-jeremy-doku-still-appeals-to-the-reds/)has been defended by his teammate Hamari Traore after enduring a difficult start to life at his new club Rennes.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has been [touted as an admirer of the teenager](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/jeremy-doku-belgian-teen-klopp-wanted-succeed-mane-liverpool/141j052ff425j10atklqmub69h) and Liverpool were at one stage [reportedly doing everything in their power](https://www.football365.com/news/jeremy-doku-crazy-time-liverpool-signing-effort)to land the youngster.

Belgian publication [Het Laatste Nieuws](https://www.hln.be/champions-league/jeremy-doku-betaalt-leergeld-chelsea-is-waasland-beveren-niet-ondervindt-man-van-27-miljoen~a95c637b/) believe Klopp remains interested in the winger and, as such, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on his development as they consider renewing their interest down the line.

Doku [joined Rennes from Anderlecht in October](https://onefootball.com/en/news/official-jeremy-doku-signs-for-rennes-for-26m-bonuses-31302403) after the 18-year-old Belgian was [widely expected](https://talksport.com/football/757502/liverpool-sadio-mane-anderlecht-jeremy-doku/) to take the plunge in signing for an elite club over the summer.

Instead, the talented winger, who [already has one senior international goal](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jeremy-doku/nationalmannschaft/spieler/486049/verein_id/3382), made the [stepping stone up to Ligue 1](https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/), where he has [struggled to get going](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jeremy-doku/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/486049/saison/2020/wettbewerb/FR1/verein/273) having made a [flying start to the 2020/21 campaign](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jeremy-doku/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/486049/saison/2020/wettbewerb/FR1/verein/273) while with his former employers.

After receiving some criticism, his teammate has leapt to his defence this week when speaking to [Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/a5528505482764983264-hamari-traore-pas-inquiet-pour-jeremy-doku).

Traore remarked: “He has crazy potential. He has enormous room for improvement, we haven’t had a lot of training between the sequence of matches. I think he’s trying to figure out how to play, how he can combine with me.

“He’s a young man. We must not forget that he has just arrived (at Rennes). It takes time to adapt. It will come. I know we will make a good double-act and we will bring danger to the side.”

The French club [paid £23.4m for Doku](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2020/official-jeremy-doku-signs-for-rennes-for-e26m-bonuses/), slightly above his current market value according to [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jeremy-doku/marktwertverlauf/spieler/486049).

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Any immediate need for new wingers at Anfield was quelled by the arrival and [impact of Diogo Jota](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diogo-jota/leistungsdaten/spieler/340950).

However, as much as it pains us all to think about it, Sadio Mane will stop being [so brilliant](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/sadio-mane-is-the-first-world-class-liverpool-left-winger-in/1vtrql4qh6un21efhwpnnubuzw#:~:text=African%20All%20Stars-,Sadio%20Mane%20is%20the%20first%20world%2Dclass%20Liverpool%20left,in%2030%20years%20%2D%20Jamie%20Carragher&text=Former%20Liverpool%20defender%20Jamie%20Carragher,the%20Reds%20in%2030%20years.) eventually. Therefore, earmarking a teenager who has the [credentials to be a successor to the Senegal star](https://belgianfootballanalysis.com/analysis/jeremy-doku-201920-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) one day makes perfect sense.

Clearly his step-up hasn’t gone to plan to date, but sometimes it can take time for youngsters to adapt to new surroundings, and they [can prosper when given the leeway](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-ajax-neco-williams-champions-19383550) to be allowed to do so.