Liverpool They are in great shape, though Arnie slotThe side will be wary of competing for the title in Premier LeagueA six-point lead (with a game in hand) makes Anfield lose.
The 2024/25 season was contested against a backdrop of contractual uncertainties: Virgil van Dijk He was shy. Mohamed Salah He sought to get reporters to portray his story his way. The other, and more worrying, third is the problem Trent Alexander Arnoldwho has remained largely silent as Real Madrid close to making their move.
Elsewhere, FSG He does Need to deal with other exit issues at Anfield, as the club's record signing appears to have reached the end of the road.
Liverpool striker mystery
Darwin Nunez He is two and a half years into his Liverpool career, but he is still struggling to convince Merseyside of his ability to lead the slot attack.
Were it not for the huge success of his peers, the Uruguay international's plight would have received much harsher criticism, and it was not a short period for him after all.
It's definitely a dilemma. Indeed, Liverpool bosses appear to have reached the end of their game Football Insider is already reporting This month, an offer of between £50m and £60m for the sale will be accepted.
Then you have it Diogo Jota. The Portuguese striker is considered one of Liverpool's most lethal strikers, ranking among the top 8% of strikers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year in terms of goals scored (0.67) per 90. According to FBref.
But Jota's fitness record is not enviable by rivals. It's not the long-term solution to center forward over 40 or 50 games, season after season.
If Liverpool were to increase their goal threat from the number nine and reduce their workload Mohamed Salah Which he has endured for many years, sporting director Richard Hughes will need to put right in the transfer market.
Nunez has missed 50 big chances in the English Premier League since his arrival in July 2022. According to SovascorHe scored only 22 goals in that time period. The Uruguayan striker is 25 years old now and is not showing the growth that every Liverpool player was expecting.
It is not surprising that FSG has been stalking the market in search of an alternative.
Liverpool leads the race for Nunez's replacement
Anfield Watch has revealed Stefanos Tzimas is on Liverpool's radar and the Reds are “very keen to sign” the PAOK striker, who is thriving on loan at FC Nuremberg in the German second division.
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PAOK have an initial agreement in place for Nuremberg to sign the 19-year-old permanently for £15m in the summer, but Liverpool have been informed they will secure the teenager's signature for a fee of £25m. Bayern Munich are also interested but the Reds are going strong.
More reports by Sky Sports Germany Florian Plettenberg reports on Monday that Liverpool had “begun talks” with the player’s club via a phone call a few days ago.
Based on Nunes rumours, It has also been claimed Saudi Professional League giants Al Hilal are interested in keeping the Uruguayan away from Slot, thus making room for a talent like Tzimas to join the cause.
What will Stefanos Tzimas bring to Liverpool?
Salah has been Liverpool's fulcrum in attack since he joined Jurgen KloppThe reason for this dates back to 2017, and although he may extend his contract, the 32-year-old won't be around forever.
What Slot needs is an up-and-coming scorer who will get stronger with each passing year. Tzimas is that man, and he was Hailed as a “beast in the making” By talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Stefanos Tzimas: Career statistics to date |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Club/Level |
Applications |
Objectives |
Helps |
PAOK |
30 |
5 |
1 |
Nuremberg |
15 |
8 |
2 |
PAOK U19 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
PAOK B |
10 |
7 |
3 |
Statistics via Transfer market |
His stay in the German second division appears to be paying dividends in terms of his development, with the 19-year-old scoring eight goals in 14 appearances for the 11th-placed side this season, starting just ten and missing 11. great opportunities, According to Sovascorwhich isn't so bad when you consider Nunez's aforementioned extravagance.
Given that Liverpool will sign him after honing his tools in Germany, Tzimas could be their very own version of Slott. Roberto Firmino.
Tzimas ranks in the top 5% of strikers across Europe's top five leagues in terms of goals scored, top 1% in terms of progressive carries and successful tackles and top 18% of tackles per 90, According to FBref.
A successful strike is scored when a player beats his opponent by carrying the ball directly behind him while maintaining possession.
There is no doubt that he is more than just a goalscorer, and in fact, that may be exactly what Liverpool need to emulate Firmino's triumphant signing.
Bobby Dazzler wasn't a real goalscorer, not with Salah and Sadio Mane by his side. The Brazilian star has operated in a unique world that has allowed him to pull the strings with deft flicks and clever passes. He was also a tenacious defender, a part of the game that Tzimas also seemed to enjoy.
Defensive striker and all that, except Firmino Recorded 186 goal contributions He made 362 appearances for the Reds, won everything (except the pesky Europa League Cup) and became a modern club legend.
Sometimes it seems that Nunez has some of the elements needed to succeed as a number nine – he is stubborn, talented and willing to get involved in defence, but he does not have the temperament in front of goal. Anfield icon Robbie Fowler He even said he was “not a Liverpool player” before Slot's side faced Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. Nunez missed a great opportunity at that moment.
With the likes of Jota and Luis Diaz in Liverpool's ranks, it is certainly possible to sign a rising player like Tzimas and nurture him up front over the coming years. Perhaps he can become the greatest striker since Firmino, overtaking Nunez.