He can "replace" Salah: Liverpool in contact over signing £50m "superstar"

[ad_1] After closing the 2024/25 marketing campaign with a draw towards Crystal Palace, after which lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool boss Arne Slot pledged to take a position this summer season, albeit with out "radical modifications".

Such a practical response is to be anticipated from an esteemed head coach, one whose businesslike strategy has allowed him to suit proper in as Jurgen Klopp's successor on Merseyside.

Nonetheless, the hearsay mill is full of bolstered claims that Liverpool are shifting swiftly to conclude some (pre)summer season enterprise: Florian Wirtz is within the means of shifting from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield for a club-record charge, whereas Werkself teammate Jeremie Frimpong has already accomplished his medical.

Frimpong is being signed to switch Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose free switch to Actual Madrid is imminent, and in a means, his German peer is simply too, hailed as "a genius" by Xabi Alonso for his immense inventive capability.

Nonetheless, the Reds are eager to make additional frontal signings to assist Mohamed Salah, who has dominated the awards ceremonies after his unbelievable yr, however absolutely wants a bit extra assist if he is to go once more, aged 33, subsequent season.

Liverpool's frontline in 24/25 Salah completed the marketing campaign fairly timidly, with two targets and one help from his last 9 Premier League fixtures, however then so did the remainder of the group, who claimed two factors from 12 after the title had been sealed.

Late-season slumps make for a defective barometer in terms of assessing Salah's type, predicting future success. Nonetheless, the Egyptian King turns 33 in just a few weeks, so issues are comprehensible.

Really, are they? Salah has simply scored 34 targets throughout 53 matches in all competitions for Liverpool, enjoying 23 assists too. He has cemented his standing as one of many division's all-timers, and after penning a brand new contract on Merseyside, wants 29 top-flight targets from two extra phrases to switch Harry Kane because the Premier League's second-highest goalscorer in historical past.

Nonetheless, he wants help. Liverpool's forwards have welled up just like the rising tide this season, making features, however they've additionally ebbed away, with the necessity for a brand new quantity 9 evident given Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz's bouts of inconsistency.

Liverpool's Frontline in 2024/25 (all comps)

Participant

Apps (begins)

Targets

Assists

Mohamed Salah

52 (50)

34

23

Cody Gakpo

49 (32)

18

7

Luis Diaz

50 (38)

17

8

Diogo Jota

37 (22)

9

4

Darwin Nunez

47 (17)

7

Federico Chiesa

14 (4)

2

Stats through Transfermarkt

Salah does not simply want a striker, although; he wants extra cowl. The veteran famous person was backed up by the untrusted Federico Chiesa this yr, who has began simply as soon as within the league.

Whereas Wirtz will assist Salah towards a brand new season of prolific returns, and whereas the addition of an out-and-out goalscorer would ease his heavy burden, some help on the correct wing, to assist Liverpool throughout quite a few completely different tournaments, would not go amiss.

Liverpool within the race for Salah rival In line with Spanish paper AS (Wednesday version, through Sport Witness), Liverpool are keen on signing Actual Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo, who has modified his agent forward of the summer season window after his aspect missed out on European qualification.

With a €60m (£50m) launch clause, the winger would not come low cost, however Liverpool and Arsenal are believed to be the most important contenders within the race for his signature after efforts from the Saudi Professional League had been rebuffed.

Certainly, the Premier League duo are stated to have made contact concerning the transfer, amid the declare that they're 'knocking on the door' of the in-demand expertise.

The 23-year-old would play second fiddle to Salah, however with Chiesa's future unsure, this may very well be a shrewd and prudent transfer. Salah is not getting any youthful, in spite of everything.

Why Liverpool ought to signal Takefusa Kubo Liverpool had been pissed off when making an attempt to signal Actual Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi final summer season, and can be cautious of partaking in a protracted and in the end unsuccessful bid for an additional high participant from the Basque Nation this summer season.

Nonetheless, Kubo has modified his brokers, and that means he is open to shifting this summer season. Furthermore, having rejected a profitable provide from Saudi Arabia, he desires to play on the highest degree.

Liverpool can provide simply that, providing additional enticement by way of the truth that Salah can be enjoying at AFCON subsequent season, operating from December to January.

It might definitely add some new electrical energy and athleticism to the correct flank, particularly when contemplating Jeremie Frimpong must be within the combine too.

As per FBref, Kubo ranks among the many high 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers this time period for progressive carries and the highest 7% for profitable take-ons per 90, very a lot bearing the tempo of a person some ten years youthful than Salah.

A profitable take-on is recorded when a participant beats their opponent by instantly carrying the ball previous them whereas retaining possession.

Extra to the purpose, former Mallorca CEO Maheta Molango has stated he has "the components to in the future be a famous person”, with Liverpool hero Wataru Endo, Kubo's Japanese teammate, suggesting the fleet-footed ace might succeed - or "exchange" - Salah at Anfield in the future.

We won't dispute that Kubo wants to supply extra in entrance of aim, having solely scored seven targets and assisted 4 extra throughout 52 matches in all competitions this season, however the underlying information suggests he is certainly a 'famous person' within the making.

As per Sofascore, the diminutive winger may need scored solely 5 instances in La Liga this yr, however he additionally squandered simply two huge probabilities, profitable 5.3 duels per recreation, indicating a combative strategy that might serve him nicely within the Premier League.

He averaged 1.2 pictures per recreation. He must do extra. However - and it is a huge however - Slot is aware of his stuff on the tactical entrance, can develop his confidence within the last third whereas utilising Kubo's noteworthy bodily metrics to permit him to problem Salah for a beginning berth on the correct flank.

After all, whereas a few of Kubo's skill would harbour reservations about becoming a member of a group like Liverpool solely to play because the understudy of one other, Kubo will possible recognise the advantages of studying from a grasp craftsman comparable to Salah.

He is acquired work to do, however the Japan worldwide is younger and gifted and can be the right counterpoint on the correct flank, one whose potential suggests he might even exchange Salah and make the place his personal down the road.