A big summer of change is coming at Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp’s eight-and-a-half year tenure coming to an end.
The German bids farewell to Merseyside in a bid to get away from the pressures of top management and is set to be replaced by Feyenoord boss Arne Slot, for whom a deal has already been agreed.
Nothing has been made official at the time of writing, but it is almost guaranteed that Slot will follow in the footsteps of fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who is swimming with the sharks at Manchester United after two very eventful seasons. to spell.
While there is a near certainty on the management front, the same cannot be said for some key members of Liverpool’s key personnel.
Speculation is rife over the long-term futures of Virgil van Dijk and Saudi Pro League target Mohamed Salah, both out of contract at Anfield next year, but another name has slipped in the transfer headlines of late is Darwin Nunez.
A record £85 million purchase (total package, including bonuses) from Benfica in June 2022, Nunez was expected to achieve big things on Merseyside. He had scored 34 goals in his last season in Portugal and apparently had all the assets to launch into the Premier League.
There were moments of brilliance from Nunez over the next two years and great use of his pace, athleticism and chaotic unpredictability. But more often than not, he failed to deliver in the big moments, repeatedly missing clear chances in front of goal – the kind of chances you need to take if you want to win titles and trophies. Premier League on the continent.
Nunez’s varied performance level means his place as a starter has not always been guaranteed, and his opportunities may have been even more limited if Diogo Jota had not continued to be cursed with injuries.
Barcelona have been suggested a shock exit route, as they prepare for life after Robert Lewandowski, and the 24-year-old’s decision to remove all Liverpool-related content from his Instagram account has only further fuel the fire of rumors.
The question is: if Nunez walks out the door at Anfield, who could replace him?
Liverpool’s main strength in recent years has been the number of goals scored from wide advanced areas. Mohamed Salah was the main talisman, scoring a ridiculous amount from the right, and he was ably supported by Sadio Mane for much of the time.
-But even though Salah continues to improve at a rapid pace, Mané’s goals haven’t really been replaced since he left the club for a new challenge. Jota, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have done their best to fill the void, but their contributions are more akin to those of Roberto Firmino in the central striker role.
That’s why signing a prolific striker like Gyokeres might actually be the best thing Liverpool can do, even if it will cost an arm and a leg to do it. The Swede has had an incredible season with Sporting CP, carries the same physically imposing threat as Nunez and is much calmer with the ball at his feet, in terms of taking chances and creating others.
More importantly, he is a direct number nine, which would surely bring more clarity to the roles of Jota and Gakpo, who seem to plug in wherever they are needed and sometimes pass through the middle if Nunez is sidelined to the left.
With central strikers as their chosen theme, it’s pretty obvious that Liverpool should consider signing one who is 100% proven in the Premier League. Enter, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.
The Swede has had injury problems, sure, but his record at St James’ Park is exceptional. Not only are Isak’s numbers good, but his link-up play is excellent and he is capable of playing alone in front or alongside an attacking partner, if the situation demands it.
Balance is so important to a team, as is work rate, and there is little better than Isak if Liverpool need to change tactics or simply plunder the ball into the back of the net.
Both Gyokeres and Isak would come at a premium price, there is no doubt about that. So this is where Feyenoord striker and Arne Slot disciple Santiago Gimenez could enter the equation.
Just 23 years old, the Argentine-born Mexican is the youngest of the trio here and displays similar traits to Nunez. A fervent presser out of possession, Gimenez will happily rush into the channels and lead counter-attacks – where he will invariably make the kind of decisions that Nunez got wrong a little too often.
Gimenez’s finishing has also improved significantly over the last two years, suggesting he works extremely well with Slot and his coaching staff on the training pitch. A safe option? Maybe. An option good enough to allow you to spend money elsewhere? Absolutely.
