Liverpool has won the Premier League title, but the most exciting thing heading into the summer is that there are a couple of obvious places for the Reds to improve again.
One of those is at center forward, with Darwin Nunez having been inconsistent and Diogo Jota struggling with injuries. Luis Diaz has filled in well at times, but his best role is definitely on the left flank.
Alongside left-back, with Andy Robertson’s level having dropped off, getting a new striker in should be a priority. And former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has a couple of suggestions for who sporting director Richard Hughes could target.
“We have to stress I’m not sure anyone signed a player without signing a player the summer before,” Hamann said. “They’ve kept Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, but I’m still not sure what will happen with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“He’s most likely to go. You’ve got Conor Bradley there so many you need a full-back who can cover at center-back. The position they will look for is a center-forward. As willing and hard-working as Darwin Nunez is, he simply doesn’t put enough chances away. That’s the only position I would be looking at.
“[Alexander Isak] would be close to three figures, if not more. He is probably the best center-forward. The other one they’re talking about is Liam Delap from Ipswich. Isak was at [Borussia] Dortmund when he was 17-18, it was probably a bit too early.
(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
“Isak would certainly be a player who would improve them. Every now and then they do spend big but are not the biggest spenders. If there’s a price tag of 80, 90, 100 million — I know they paid it for Van Dijk, which was well worth it — I’m not too sure this is what they want to do.”
Having not spent much last summer, the funds should be there for Liverpool to get what it needs this time around. And Slot has now had a full season to assess his roster and decide what needs to change.
“Jurgen Klopp bought quite a few players in his last season and it did improve,” Hamann continued, while speaking to talkSPORT. “What we must forget is that no player came in last summer, and only Federico Chiesa came in late in the window.
Learn more
“What he did is rejuvenate Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones because they have been regulars. Gravenberch has been outstanding, probably a contender for Player of the Season.
“Players who haven’t played much last season were like new signings. Curtis Jones was a bit-part player, he’s played more games than ever. The big difference has been Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in the middle of the park; they have been brilliant.”
Liverpool.com says: The Reds definitely need a striker to upgrade on Nunez. Isak would be a dream but he seems likely to be remaining with Newcastle. Delap has had a decent season, but wouldn’t be hugely exciting. Whoever it is, Liverpool needs to get someone in to help out Salah when it comes to regular goalscoring.
