The 31-goal star dreamed of moving to Liverpool and he impressed Klopp

Ivan Tony was a rookie throughout his first full season in the Premier League, impressing some of the mature big boys: especially Jurgen Klopp. For the 25-year-old Brentford player, it was some of his early journey at Newcastle United, where he made his first league debut back in 2015.

The player has been working in League One ever since, swapping from St. Petersburg United to then-champion Brentford in the summer of 2020, and his 31 goals helped the team qualify.

His goal in the Second Division last season also broke the long-term record of 30 goals in a single season set by Glen Murray during the 2013 Crystal Palace promotion season.

After returning to England's top flight, he has gained a lot of attention from top clubs, something Klopp can focus on this summer. In an interview earlier this year, Tony publicly stated that he had been a Liverpool fan since childhood.

"I support Liverpool, I'm a Liverpool fan. If I get a chance, who knows? Asked who he supported, he said.

When asked about a mock transfer at Anfield, he made his dream clear. "I have to go to Liverpool! I want to be the main force. I will make myself the main force. "

He later claimed on his social media that he had fulfilled his childhood dream when he first faced the Reds.

After facing the Reds for the first time, he posted on Instagram: "Yesterday was a sleepless night, to say the least, and my dream came true in the face of the team I have supported since I was a child."

On Sunday afternoon, Joel Matip and Virgil van dealt with the striker's threats brilliantly, with Liverpool winning 3-0 at Anfield and Tony being so limited that he had to spend a frustrating afternoon.

However, in a 3-3 draw in September, he caused huge trouble for Klopp's side, who showed off his magical aerial abilities when the team chose a rather straightforward style of play. That night, Tony won nine aerial showdowns against the likes of Matip, Van Dijk and Fabinho, which could have brought a lot to the German manager as Divok Origi could leave this summer.

Origi's time at Anfield has accumulated to the point where he has become a good player. But despite the lot of moments of joy he has given Reds supporters over the course of seven years, Liverpool can still strengthen their striker deputy in the summer.

That's why Tony is perfectly qualified for the transfer.

Despite scoring just four Premier League goals in 19 games this season, the striker's defensive work will give the Liverpool manager plenty of encouragement. So far, the 25-year-old has some impressive defensive stats: according to FBref, he is ranked 84th, 87th and 97th in Europe's top five leagues with tackles, interceptions and blocks per 90 minutes.

His talent in front of goal has been showcased over the past few seasons, showing a side of him that may not have been seen in the game, and when Brentford fights to stay in the Premier League, this season will undoubtedly increase his transfer value in the eyes of many teams.

Reports in recent weeks show that Origi, who has not played since December - currently has only six months left on his contract at Anfield and will only automatically trigger the extension when he starts a certain number in the league this season.

However, considering that he has not yet made his appearance in the Premier League, and that Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will only miss one more league game due to their statement at the Africa Cup of Nations, the chances of Origi making multiple starts seem slim.

Under FIFA rules, the Belgian striker is free to negotiate with other clubs this month, which will be activated on July 1 ahead of a potential pre-contract agreement.

That being said, there's still a good chance he'll re-sign at Liverpool as he seems quite happy with his role as the fifth choice, especially since he signed a new contract in the summer of 2019, when his value had peaked.

But if Liverpool have ambitions to compete against Manchester City in a series of games, then they will need more involvement from those who can't guarantee starting, and Tony may be the one who does.