Liverpool have hit gold on “special” star

Darwin Nunez scored a hat-trick for Liverpool in a behind-closed-doors conflict in opposition to Stoke Metropolis, earlier than Arne Slot and his lads jetted off to Japan for his or her pre-season tour.

Nunez, sporting a recent buzzed trim, reminded just a few that he is aware of the place the again of the online is, but it surely’s probably that he’ll depart this summer time.

The Uruguayan joined Liverpool from Benfica for an preliminary £64m determine in 2022. That payment might need risen to £85m, however the truth that it hasn’t is indicative of the striker’s struggles throughout his years on Merseyside, solely scoring 25 objectives within the Premier League throughout his three campaigns, lowered to the periphery since Slot changed Jurgen Klopp one yr in the past.

Nonetheless, Nunez has gained the Carabao Cup and the Premier League throughout his three years, and he’ll reside lengthy within the reminiscence of the fanbase, for proper causes and improper.

And on condition that Liverpool are set to splash the money on an thrilling substitute in Hugo Ekitike, it is in all probability proper that he strikes on to pastures new.

Liverpool’s deal for Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool worth Nunez at £70m, and sticking to that price ticket ended prolonged negotiations with Napoli for the Uruguayan quantity 9.

Suitors stay within the Saudi Professional League, and although the 25-year-old might but keep put, the acquisition of a prime expertise in Ekitike modifications issues, for this French ahead has the prospect to nail down a focal function for the Premier League champions.

Nevertheless, there is not any assure that he’ll hit the bottom working. Ekitike stormed his method by means of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, scoring 22 objectives and supplying 12 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt. His dynamic, strong model even led journalist Graeme Bailey to hail him as “the following Mbappe”.

Here is the factor: the explanation Liverpool’s prime goal was Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak stems from the truth that Isak is somewhat achieved within the Premier League.

Signal him for the reported £130m payment and you understand you are going to get a world-class striker who will present aim upon aim upon aim throughout the marketing campaign.

He was “one of the best striker on the earth” final season, in accordance with analyst Raj Chohan. Alas, the Magpies somewhat like their frontman, and did not need to promote. In Ekitike, a ahead of comparable properties, Liverpool have the proper different, however one who would require work and care over the approaching years.

However Slot is aware of his stuff, all proper, with one thing of a knack for elevating thrilling gamers, keen them into superstars.

Take, for instance, Cody Gakpo, who Ekitike would possibly need to use as a benchmark as he makes his merry method towards prominence within the Premier League.

Liverpool have struck gold on Cody Gakpo

Liverpool signed Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for £35m in January 2023. He was the speak of the city, having performed a blinder for the Netherlands throughout the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring in every of his nation’s group stage matches.

Keeping off curiosity from Manchester United for the versatile ahead (very like with Ekitike within the current day), Gakpo, 25, has reached a stage which has not simply paid again the worth tag however proved it to have been a shrewd funding.

Whereas the Dutchman has all the time maintained a level of prolificness for Liverpool, he is turn into extra full, extra refined, over the previous 12 months, with pundit Peter Crouch remarking that he is “gone up a stage” beneath Slot’s wing.

Klopp utilised Gakpo in his personal method, and Slot has made use of his abilities in another way. Throughout the 2023/24 season, Gakpo was performed throughout nearly each function conceivable, scattered throughout the park like so many leaves within the wind.

However Slot noticed issues in his personal method, and performed his countryman nearly completely off the left wing, deeming his goalscoring capacity to be greatest served within the function.

Final season within the prime flight, Gakpo missed solely six massive possibilities within the Premier League, as per Sofascore, certainly scoring ten instances.

The truth is, as FBref report it, the Netherlands native ranked among the many prime 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues final season for objectives scored however solely the highest 26% for complete photographs taken per 90, highlighting the economic system of his ball placing.

This composure and accuracy are issues that lingers as foibles in Ekitike’s talent set, and are drawbacks which should be labored on over the following few years. Slot will probably be blissful to take action, as he has achieved with Gakpo since first arriving within the Premier League.

And that improvement is additional evidenced by means of Gakpo’s monetary development. In response to CIES Soccer Observatory, the £120k-per-week star is valued at about €104m (equating to £90m), which places him on a taller pedestal than Ekitike, for certain.

Praised by Klopp for his “particular” qualities, Gakpo is the actual deal, and it is thrilling to assume that he, together with Ekitike, will proceed to develop and enhance over the following a number of years, shaping him into an much more spectacular ahead.

If something, Gakpo’s present stage merely works in Ekitike’s favour: the French ahead is inventive and dynamic, works laborious off the ball. On this method, he could possibly be an thrilling companion, elevating Gakpo’s goalscoring efforts.

And if he will get his head down and seeks to emulate his soon-to-be teammate’s development, Slot might nicely discover that he is hit the jackpot as soon as once more, having already lifted Gakpo from his place as a proficient ahead and formed him into the most effective within the enterprise.