Slot wants to sign £50m Nunez & Isak hybrid at Liverpool

At the start of the season, Arne Slot confronted a number of questions relating to his true tactical integrity and the way a lot of Liverpool’s rip-roaring begin was a product of Jurgen Klopp’s legacy.

For positive, some claimed the Dutchman was using on his predecessor’s coattails, however such arguments have been decreased to flaking, brittle deadwood as Liverpool enter the brand new yr confidently atop the Premier League and Champions League tables.

Klopp’s residual ferocity, his counter-pressing snap, may be discovered on this present Liverpool group. It is like a type of lenticular work that shift when transferring to totally different views.

Optical illusions on the pitch can provide the looks of Klopp’s system, however make no mistake, Slot may be very a lot his personal man. He has willed and formed the Anfield aspect into his personal design regardless of the burden of the duty and the bereftness of exercise in the course of the summer time switch window.

Sidenote: See the desk above; Liverpool are extra relaxed of their build-up, much less frenetic and energetic. Nonetheless, they’re scoring extra and conceding much less. That is the marker of Slot’s genius, calming issues down by means of phases whereas guaranteeing that his aspect retain the flexibility to ramp it as much as the nth diploma when the scenario calls for.

Federico Chiesa was snapped up for an eye-catching £12.5m however has solely featured 4 occasions as he battles accidents. With Darwin Nunez‘s future considerably unclear too, FSG might authorise a press release signing this yr – and maybe even this month.

Liverpool eyeing new ahead

As per Sky Sports, Liverpool have shortlisted Brentford ahead Bryan Mbeumo and should transfer to signal him this yr. Whereas the door shouldn’t be closed on January spending, resolving Anfield’s contractual issues is the urgent situation.

Mbeumo’s a prized signature after his prolific performances within the Premier League this time period, with dependable experiences suggesting that Newcastle United are additionally within the race and willing to pay £50m this month, although they’re cautious of PSR restrictions.

Liverpool boast the world’s finest proper winger in Mohamed Salah however with Chiesa homesick, peripheral and on the lookout for a manner out, this may very well be the right transfer to bolster Slot’s thriving frontline.

Bryan Mbeumo’s season in numbers

Mbeumo has been part of Brentford’s exceptional journey underneath Thomas Frank’s administration, notching 105 goal contributions over 222 appearances.

Joining from Troyes in French Ligue 2 in 2019, Mbeumo has achieved modern-legend standing in west London and, nonetheless solely 24 years previous, will really feel that his finest days lie forward.

And rightly so. Considered one of many Premier League’s most enjoyable forwards, his purpose towards Arsenal on New 12 months’s Day was his forty fifth because the begin of the 2022/23 marketing campaign, placing him seventh in the division since that timeframe, instantly behind Alexander Isak.

He is at all times there, searching down objectives, however he is not only a marksman. As per FBref, Mbeumo really ranks among the many high 9% of positional friends within the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the highest 12% for progressive carries and profitable take-ons and the highest 14% for tackles per 90. He is the entire bundle.

In truth, such metrics have seen him in comparison with gamers reminiscent of Isak and Nunez, amongst forwards in his position throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues. The Liverpool striker has his faults, to make sure, however he is nonetheless imbued with a sort of electrical energy and chaoticness that satisfied Liverpool to pay for his providers.

And Isak. Effectively. Would not Liverpool wish to signal the sort of ahead who might replicate among the Newcastle man’s high quality?

A Darwin Nunez & Alexander Isak hybrid

Think about a participant carrying properties distinctive to each Nunez and Isak. Think about the sort of participant you’d get. Mbeumo may very well be that kind of striker for Liverpool, one who can shift between quantity 9 and the flank.

It may very well be an irresistible recipe for achievement. In any case, Slot has demonstrated by means of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz that he’s keen to discipline large gamers in central putting roles to nice impact.

For instance, Mbeumo has scored 20 Premier League objectives because the summer time of 2023, lacking solely 14 huge probabilities in that timeframe, as per Sofascore.

Isak, one of many deadliest finishers on the continent, has missed 30 big chances since 2023/24, albeit scoring 33 objectives since. Nunez represents the converse, having scored simply 13 Premier League objectives within the mentioned timeframe, lacking, nonetheless, 30 big chances, embarrassingly matching Isak.

It is grim studying for Nunez acolytes, albeit they will take solace in the truth that Liverpool’s agent of chaos is a thorny buyer, utilizing his athletic fashion and dynamism to assist his group towards their purpose.

He ranks among the top 14% of forwards throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for progressive carries and the highest 3% for tackles per 90, which is spectacular, however we are able to see that Mbeumo would implement a tactical technique that might negate Nunez’s function, his experience whereas bringing an entire new innovative to enrich the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo.

Your adjustments have been saved

Transfer Focus

Mega cash offers, controversial strikes and big-name flops. That is the house of switch information and opinion throughout Soccer FanCast.

Whereas Mbeumo would not present Liverpool with the ball-striking potential of Isak, they might mimic it in their very own kind. That is sufficient. Greater than sufficient. Liverpool maybe boast the best frontline within the nation underneath Slot, and Mbeumo, described as an “output machine” by producer Michael Johnston, would make it even higher. It is so simple as that.

Associated

Worth more than Trent: Liverpool have hit gold on £115m star in the making

Arne Slot has turned this Liverpool expertise right into a famous person.