Attacking reinforcements are needed for Liverpool this summer.
Even before Hugo Ekitike’s injury against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the Reds would have had to dip into the market to bolster their forward line.
Liverpool spent an eyewatering amount last summer, parting with almost £300million to sign Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ekitike.
However, as the season progressed, it quickly became apparent that Liverpool lacked real pace in the forward line. With the news of Mo Salah’s departure at the end of the season, thoughts turned to who Liverpool might sign to replace him.
Potential winger replacements
The obvious candidate is Yan Diomande. The RB Leipzig man has been a revelation this season, and though the €100m price tag seems steep, the hype surrounding him appears to be justified. With Ekitike’s injury, though, Liverpool now need to address a void on the left side of the attack.
Liverpool are unlikely to spend big on a centre-forward to replace the Frenchman. The most obvious solution is for Cody Gakpo to be promoted as Isak’s understudy, and a new left-winger to be brought in.
Anthony Gordon is one name. But his reported £100m valuable might prove to be problematic. A moneyball option for the Reds could well be Bazoumana Toure. The 20-year-old has been linked with a £37m move to Anfield this summer after an impressive season with Hoffenheim.
At a glance, his name isn’t anywhere near as exciting as the likes of Gordon, Diomande, Bradley Barcola or Michael Olise. But the Liverpool of yesteryear went for profile over reputation. It served them well. It could serve them well again.
Fearless nature
Liverpool have star names in attack. The forward line is going to be built around Isak and Wirtz. What they now need is a facilitator or two. They need pace, they need players who are aggressive with the ball. They need more players with the same fearlessness as Rio Ngumoha. He was a standout performer against Fulham in the Premier League and made an immediate impact against PSG.
Liverpool need a winger, and Toure fits the bill. Slot hinted at this earlier in the season when discussing Isak.
“The main difference for him is that we are facing here many times a low block and it is not that it never happened at Newcastle but not as much I think. I think this season the league has changed, we see so many more low blocks than I saw last season. But I see this not only against us, I see this in many games.
“It makes it harder for him compared to his time at Newcastle but I think it is also him adjusting to his teammates and his teammates adjusting to him. But it is obvious and clear that we have not the profile of Jacob Murphy for example available at this moment at this time.”
Liverpool don’t need Jacob Murphy. They need someone with his profile. He’s a roadrunner on the right for Newcastle, whose sole objective was getting the ball into the box as frequently and as early as he could.
Toure does that for Hoffenheim. Just on the opposite flank.
A strong Bundesliga campaign
The left-footer is fifth for completed take-ons in the Bundesliga this season. Only Olise, Luis Diaz, Antonio Nusa and Diomande have completed more. Toure also ranks sixth for take-ons attempted overall. He attempts 4.55 crosses per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga and sits fifth for assists, with eight.
The Ivory Coast international does two things Liverpool desperately need their wingers to do. He beats his man and he puts the ball into the box. He’s the sort of player who could facilitate for Wirtz and Isak. He’s the sort who could help truly unlock the £200m pair.
Liverpool have struggled to get their attackers heavily involved in the right areas this season. It’s why Ekitike ranks 12th for Expected Goals in the Premier League behind the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Viktor Gyokeres and Raul Jimenez. Salah is 21st with 8.2 xG, and Gakpo sits 24th on 7.8 xG. For added context, Gordon, Beto and Benjamin Sesko all have higher xG totals.
And then there’s Isak. The Swedish international has had a torrid debut campaign at Anfield, with multiple injuries. However, across his 529 minutes in the Premier League, he’s managed just 15 shots and averaged 0.32 xG per 90. That’s exactly half of his average for Newcastle last season.
If Liverpool are to be a threat next season, they need pace in wide areas and someone to provide the ammunition for Isak. There are pricier options, but Toure fits the bill.