Liverpool are getting ready to defend their Premier League title, with FSG’s ambitions evidenced by the heavy spending that has been enforced over the previous few months.
And there is seemingly extra to return. With Darwin Nunez being touted with a transfer away, Napoli had been however have withdrawn their title as a result of variations in valuation. Sporting director Richard Hughes is thus perusing the marketplace for a possible striker to guide the road over the approaching years.
Nunez’s struggles to adapt to Arne Slot’s techniques have been nicely documented final season, with the Dutch coach even stating that he “cannot settle for” the 25-year-old’s work charge after a string of regarding performances in February.
With only one Premier League begin to his title since Boxing Day, Nunez was routinely changed at quantity 9 by Luis Diaz, whose versatility allowed him to moonlight as a focal frontman to a title-winning impact.
Nonetheless, Diaz could now be on the transfer.
The newest on Luis Diaz’s Liverpool future
Diaz scored 17 objectives and supplied eight assists throughout all competitions final season, certainly enjoying a good chunk of his soccer as Liverpool’s makeshift striker.
There isn’t any denying he was one of the essential components of Slot’s squad, however Diaz is 28 and coming into the second-to-last yr in his £55k-per-week contract. Despite Liverpool turning Barcelona’s strategy apart final month, concrete talks for a brand new deal do not seem like forthcoming.
However curiosity has continued. Bayern Munich are understood to have just lately agreed private phrases with the Colombian, and whereas Liverpool’s stance stays the identical, a profitable provide might change the narrative.
Diaz is among the greatest wingers within the Premier League, in Europe, but when Liverpool obtain a compelling provide, there’s simply trigger for his summer time switch, particularly if a brand new deal on Merseyside is not within the pipeline.
And certainly, Slot and Hughes seem to have recognized a successor already.
Liverpool lining up Diaz successor
In accordance with RMC Sport over in France, Liverpool have joined the race for Lyon winger Malick Fofana, who can also be on Bayern Munich and Marseille’s radar.
Chelsea have been beforehand , however their £51.5m signing of Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund ought to put them out of consideration (emphasis on ‘ought to’).
Lyon’s monetary struggles might ease negotiations for Liverpool, however the Ligue 1 outfit are prone to demand one thing within the area of €50m (£43m).
What Malick Fofana would deliver to Liverpool
Fofana may solely be 20 years previous, however he is already established himself as one of the thrilling offensive abilities in Europe. Throughout 62 appearances with Lyon, he is scored 15 objectives and equipped seven assists.
He is unpolished and would want loads of teaching to succeed in Diaz’s slick stage as a Premier League powerhouse, however the components are completely there. Praised for his “fashion, swagger and charisma” on the sector by journalist Antonio Mango, who was advocating in Could for his potential to succeed Diaz at Liverpool, ought to the South American depart.
Fofana’s tempo and energy as a winger make the sturdy suggestion that he is a tailored successor on the left wing. Final season, for instance, he hit 17 objective contributions throughout all competitions regardless of solely beginning 23 occasions, with Mango additionally calling him a “game-changer”.
Fofana, furthermore, has proven himself to have an eye fixed for a surprise objective.
Diaz’s uniqueness can be onerous to interchange. Not solely a dynamic athlete, he’s clever and comfortable to carry out throughout any variety of roles in an effort to drive Slot’s venture nearer towards success.
However there is a logic to FSG’s hesitance towards extending Diaz’s deal: he isn’t precisely proved a winger of sustained prolificness throughout his time at Anfield, and ebbed and flowed from kind all through factors of the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
Diaz and Cody Gakpo equally supplied an attacking output that was surpassed solely by Mohamed Salah. With signing a brand new striker on the playing cards, the reorienting of Liverpool’s objective risk might really work in Fofana’s favour, permitting him to reach with out the accountability of emulating Diaz’s kind from the off.
League Stats 24/25 – Malick Fofana vs Luis Diaz | ||
|---|---|---|
Stats (* per recreation) | Fofana | Diaz |
Matches (begins) | 29 (16) | 36 (28) |
Targets | 5 | 13 |
Assists | 4 | 5 |
Pictures (on track)* | 1.1 (0.5) | 2.0 (0.8) |
Huge possibilities missed | 4 | 11 |
Cross completion | 84% | 86% |
Huge possibilities created | 6 | 8 |
Key passes* | 0.9 | 1.6 |
Dribbles* | 0.8 | 1.5 |
Tackles* | 1.1 | 1.1 |
Duels gained* | 2.9 | 3.8 |
Stats by way of Sofascore | ||
Fofana’s restricted beginning motion throughout all competitions did not cease him from displaying a promising scientific edge, although. As per FBref, the Belgium worldwide ranked among the many high 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues final time period for non-penalty objectives scored and the highest 2% for progressive carries per 90.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in the direction of the opponent’s objective at the least 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
Fofana’s crisp 84% go charge in Ligue 1 final time period, too, there’s certainly simply trigger for Liverpool to push forward and signal him earlier than one rival or one other steals forward and snaps him up.
On condition that Diaz’s inventory is sky-high in the intervening time, Liverpool would additionally be capable to full this collection of strikes to their monetary profit, which might show particularly essential provided that signing a brand new centre-forward is certainly a matter of precedence for the Reds.
With Gakpo easing the stress on the left flank, signing Fofana earlier than he hits his prime ought to show a masterful transfer from FSG. One which rivals will look again on with envy within the coming years.
He isn’t absolutely developed but, however there’s a lot to love with this Diaz-esque expertise. And is that not the Liverpool means?
Associated
Hughes lining up Liverpool transfer for £34m Guehi various who’s Konate 2.0
Liverpool’s seek for a brand new centre-back continues, amid uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate’s future
