Arne Slot could lose a number of forwards in the summer transfer window but may also be boosted by the arrival of additions, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed.
The Merseysiders enter the international break first in the Premier League table and are 12 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with just nine games remaining.
However, there are concerns about the future of the team’s forward line following their poor displays in recent weeks, particularly against Newcastle United during their EFL Cup final triumph over the Reds on March 16.
When asked about whether Liverpool fans should expect to see a revamped forward line in 2025-26, Lynch argued that up to four players could leave, telling Sports Mole: “I wouldn’t be shocked at all if three leave, pushing to four. I look at someone like Jota – is there going to be huge interest in him with his injury record and the way he’s been playing recently? I’m a little bit sceptical about that.
“I think as a goal getter off the bench he can be worth keeping around, but if you do lose three then you’ve got to go into the market to replace them. One aspect to this that is very interesting is does Slot feel like he needs six options up there or would he prefer to have five who are of a certain level of quality?
“The route they go down [could be] three out, two in, but if [the five forwards] can prove to have the same fitness record that they did this season, I don’t think that’s a huge issue because Chiesa has been a sixth option but he hasn’t played at all.”
Federico Chiesa scored Liverpool‘s consolation goal against Newcastle in second-half stoppage time in the EFL Cup final, but the Italian has only played 28 minutes in the Premier League this term, and it is difficult to see him staying if his game time continues to be so limited.
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Who could leave?
Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have faced significant criticism for their performances this campaign, with the duo either stifling attacks or failing to convert golden opportunities.
In fact, Nunez has only scored one goal in his last 19 games for Liverpool while Diaz has only found the back of the net once in his 18 most recent outings for the Reds.
Lynch told Sports Mole that Nunez is almost certain to leave in the summer, while Diaz will also have be of interest to clubs, saying: “Liverpool wouldn’t like a lot of squad churn and don’t like to turn over too many players because it generally leads to a bedding in period where you’re not perfect the next season and that can be a struggle, but they’re not going to have a choice.
“I expect big money to come in for Darwin Nunez from Saudi and expect him to go there, or if a European club can come up with the money, but I expect him to leave regardless. All that talk about the interest in Diaz, who’s got two years left on his deal – the level of production isn’t quite there. If that money comes in for him, I would expect him to leave.
“He’s not quite as nailed on [to leave] as Darwin, but there’s a good chance he goes. Chiesa cannot be happy with the role he’s been given this season and I’m sure he will want to get out to play more minutes, so all of a sudden you’re losing half of your six options and you’ve got to replace them, so you know there’s going to be turnover.”
Nunez has frequently been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, and given he has scored just five Premier League goals this term, it would be surprising if Liverpool decided to stick by the striker for another season.
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Has Salah been let down?
Previous boss Jurgen Klopp assembled one of the club’s greatest ever forward lines in the modern era, fielding Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino alongside Mohamed Salah.
The latter has scored 27 goals and provided 17 assists in the top flight this season, and has contributed to nearly 64% of his team’s goals in the Premier League.
Lynch argued that Liverpool need to ensure that the Egyptian does not always have to carry the burden of producing in the final third, adding that the club should look to find the long-term successors to Firmino and Mane.
Lynch told Sports Mole: “It has been too heavily weighted towards Salah for a little while now. You think of Liverpool in the peak years under Jurgen Klopp and although Mane and Firmino weren’t Salah’s level, they were still absolutely undeniably world-class players. I don’t quite see that [now] – it’s too heavily weighted towards a support cast standard, and the closest out of anyone this season has been Gakpo.
“Liverpool’s signings in that area haven’t been at that Mane-Firmino level and they need to get back there. They’ve got the recruitment staff back in place now [and they] will put a lot more emphasis on output more than anything else, and hopefully that physical edge as well.
“There can be churn [up front] but I don’t think it can necessarily be a bad thing for Liverpool. It could be helpful because I do think they need more people chipping in with goals than they’ve had this season. That output just hasn’t been high enough from the players who aren’t Mohamed Salah.”
Given Salah is already 32 years old, signing attackers closer to his level would be sensible if the club are to make the most of his peak years.
