It was a major present of religion in Rio Ngumoha’s potential when Liverpool opted in opposition to instantly changing Luis Diaz this summer season.
Diaz, 28, had been a gradual supply of positivity down the left flank for over three years on Merseyside, and he was instrumental in successful the Premier League final season, posting 17 targets and eight assists throughout all competitions.
However he and FSG had reached a contract dispute, and his openness to shifting for brand spanking new pastures noticed Bayern Munich’s £65.5m supply accepted in August. He introduced 4 main honours to Anfield.
Liverpool welcomed a wealth of expertise to their ranks this summer season, however they did not signal an out-and-out left winger. Partly, this was due to Cody Gakpo and £116m arrival Florian Wirtz’s means to play out on the flank, however Ngumoha’s emergence additionally performed an element.
Nevertheless, the up-and-down begin to the season may have proven Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes that maybe that was a mistake. And if rumours are to be believed, the Reds hierarchy are contemplating rectifying that blunder.
Why Liverpool want a left winger
When Wirtz joined Liverpool in July, it was anticipated that he would settle in as one of many Premier League’s greatest gamers. That’s nonetheless the anticipation, although his begin to life in England has left a lot to be desired.
After helping Hugo Ekitike on his debut within the Neighborhood Protect, the 22-year-old has since blanked throughout every of his eight appearances, missing the standard and confidence within the essential moments to make a distinction.
That high quality is in there, however Liverpool’s wider tactical struggles this time period have exacerbated Wirtz’s sluggish begin, with the attacking midfielder struggling to seek out his toes throughout central and vast berths.
Whereas the German worldwide can play out vast, this isn’t his simplest position, and with that in thoughts, Liverpool may need to signal a Diaz-like winger in 2026 to assist stability the system out as soon as once more, maybe elevating Wirtz’s recreation concurrently.
And, in response to Spanish sources, FSG are making ready an official €75m (£65m) supply for Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, although the Basque outfit are holding out to see that their €90m (£78m) valuation is met.
Williams, 23, was reported by Fabrizio Romano this summer season to be Arsenal’s “dream goal”, however the Gunners didn’t make a breakthrough and went down a unique observe.
Liverpool are conscious of curiosity from different suitors and hope to shut a deal swiftly, so hold an in depth eye on this one.
What Nico Williams would deliver to Liverpool
A maverick of a winger, Williams rose to prominence for his performances on the 2024 European Championship with Spain, very important to the Iberian nation’s triumph, hailed for his “unimaginable” expertise by Barcelona’s Pedri.
Throughout that summer season event, Spain have been merely a minimize above the remaining, and Williams and Lamine Yamal drew so many plaudits for his or her electrical performances, uncontainable.
The fast-footed expertise has performed 171 matches for Athletic Bilbao and earned 30 caps for Spain. For his membership, he has posted 32 targets and assists apiece.
A groin harm has disrupted his begin to the present marketing campaign, however with a purpose and two assists to his identify already, the £276k-per-week ace is bound to hit kind as soon as health ranges have been recovered.
Final season wasn’t certainly one of seamless success for Williams, who solely scored 5 instances in La Liga, however he notched 14 targets throughout all competitions and confirmed by his underlying knowledge his high-level means. As per Sofascore, he accomplished 2.3 dribbles and gained 4.9 duels on common every recreation.
It is greater than Williams operates in an analogous approach to Diaz, and thus might be a useful puzzle piece for Slot because the Dutch supervisor works on recalibrating his out-of-sorts Liverpool crew.
You’d hope that the Merseysiders’ struggles would have been combatted by the tip of the marketing campaign, however Williams might show a long-term success and an improve on Wirtz down the left channel.
Florian Wirtz vs Nico Williams (previous 12 months) | ||
|---|---|---|
Stats (per 90) | Wirtz | Williams |
Targets scored | 0.29 | 0.34 |
Assists | 0.35 | 0.23 |
Pictures taken | 2.59 | 2.48 |
Shot-creating actions | 4.89 | 5.17 |
Touches (att pen) | 5.21 | 5.13 |
Cross completion (%) | 78.9 | 71.0 |
Progressive passes | 6.33 | 3.22 |
Progressive carries | 3.95 | 5.91 |
Profitable take-ons | 2.53 | 3.66 |
Ball recoveries | 4.03 | 4.77 |
Knowledge by way of FBref | ||
Curiously, there are fairly a number of similarities between the respective gamers, though stylistic variations are clear when observing them in motion.
Each gamers are adept at taking up defenders, with staggering shut management. Wirtz is suave on the ball. Nevertheless, Williams is extra of a relentless service, and that’s one thing Slot’s aspect must stretch traces and accommodate Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak within the centre.
Actually, he has been described prior to now as a “world-class prospect” by journalist Zach Lowy, who went on to say that the “absolute menace” was proving a terror for Spanish defences throughout the 2023/24 marketing campaign.
It is clear that Wirtz is a proficient footballer and that he might turn out to be one of many Premier League’s main figures at Liverpool. However Liverpool must signal a first-class winger so as to add width and power to Slot’s flanks.
Williams is that man, together with his “unpredictable” and “relentless” dribbling, as famous by analyst Ben Mattinson, certain so as to add a dimension to the Liverpool fold, particularly when Mohamed Salah lacks his one-time athleticism on the alternate wing.
Is Williams a extra technically proficient footballer than Wirtz? Does his ceiling stretch greater than the German playmaker’s personal? In each instances, most likely not.
Nevertheless, Liverpool have not appeared fairly proper this season, and the Spaniard’s electrical tempo and Diaz-like qualities as a winger may show the improve wanted to revive the tactical equilibrium.
