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Gary Lineker says Liverpool sold 26-year-old who is ‘more of a natural’ striker than Marcus Rashford

Gary Lineker has been speaking about Taiwo Awoniyi – who Liverpool sold in 2021 – where he made a claim involving Marcus Rashford.

The 63-year-old made the comments on BBC One during coverage of the FA Cup c💝lash between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

So, what did Gary Lineker say about Taiwo Awoniyi? Let’s take a look…

Gary Lineker praises Taiwo Awoniyi

Well, the BBC Match of the Day host reckons Liverpool ✤sold a striker who is🏅 “more of a natural” than Rashford.

Lineker : “I think when you talk about player♊s in the box, Awoniyi is more of a natural than Marcus Rashford. Not as talented c♕learly, but he is a goalscorer. He smells it.”

Liverpool were forced to cash in on the Nigeria international back in 2021 due to work permit i🦋ssues.

Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images

Awoniyi struggled to obtain a work permit during his six years at Anfield, and was only granted one just as he was leaving for Union Berlin in July 2021 following seven loan spells a♓way.

Liverpool made from selling the 26-year-old.

Union Berlin ended up making a swift profit, selling Awoni✃yi to Nottingham Forest for in June 2022.

Taiwo Awoniyi has shone since leaving Liverpool

Liverpool may not be reaping the rewards of the 🌞impressive scouting work it took to find Awoniyi from the Imperial Soccer Academy in 2015.

Nevertheless, Liverpool’s recruitment is clearly fantastic, as the Nigerian has proven himself to be on🐟e of the best strikers in the Premier League since returning to English football with Nottingham Forest in 2022.

Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Awoniyi is actually the Premier League’s most prolific goalscorer in terms of taking his chances – even ahead of Erl🍨ing Haaland – with goals in 42 appearances for Nottingham Forest so 💃far.

Whoever at Liverpool found the Ilorin-born forward🐟 within the Imperial Soccer Academy deserves huge credit, to say the l🌺east.