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Daily Liverpool - Assessing the Reds' Forward Line
21 Plays29 days ago
As we come to the end of the international break, Jesse Sarwar concludes the assessment of the Reds' squad with a look at the forward line.
Do we need to strengthen and if so, where?
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Series Overview
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host, Jesse Sarwar. It is Friday the 28th of March.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
The international break is over, although the Premier League doesn't return until next Wednesday. So a slightly extended period of rest for the players. which is no bad thing at the and at this stage of the season.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's becoming a never-ending season of football. So we will return to normal podcasting next week as we build up to, as I said, the return of Premier League action. And what a way to kick off the return. A Merseyside derby at Anfield under the lights.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll have all the build-up and post-match reaction to that game. OK, so today we are concluding our series of episodes assessing the Liverpool squad.
00:02:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
On Monday, we ran our eye over the defensive unit. Wednesday, we did the same for the midfield. And today we finish off on that all important forward line.
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So last summer was obviously a huge one with the departure of Jurgen Klopp.
Salah's Contract and Performance Concerns
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was an expectation that Liverpool would be active in the market to give the new manager Arnie Slott a fresh start. But instead, it was pretty much as you were with only Federico Chiesa coming in for £12 million pounds from Juventus.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's start with our biggest player. in that forward line maybe at the club and that's Mohamed Salah. He turns 33 in June.
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
That contract expires obviously this summer so this is something that's of critical importance to Liverpool fans, to the club. Bought from Roma for around £36 million, pounds rising to £43 million pounds with add-ons.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm pretty sure those add-ons have been activated. i mean, if even at £43 million, pounds what a signing he's been for Liverpool.
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
392 games in total, 243 goals and 109 assists. I mean, the numbers are just staggering.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's now third in the all-time list of top goal scorers for Liverpool. So, I mean, just to get into that, I'd say just to get into that top 10, I think you you're going to go down as a as a club legend.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to get into the top three, i mean, Ian Rush is, you know, way ahead with 346 goals, 660 appearances. Roger Hunt is in second. and And I would say that he is potentially in striking distance, you know, were Salah to stay for maybe another couple of seasons.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's on 285 goals Salah 243 goals. from four hundred and ninety two appearance and sallar on two hundred and forty three goals And, you know, the season that he's had, 29 appearances in the Premier League, 27 goals.
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, just the the numbers are just just off the charts. No goals in the domestic cup competitions. Obviously, we ran went out very early in the FA Cup.
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he didn't play that many League Cup games. I think some were from substitute appearances and three goals in the Champions League. So a total of 32 goals this season in all competitions.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think if you've got a striker that's going to regularly give you upwards of 20, 25 goals a season, then I think he's done his job and you're probably going to be competing for honours.
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, you know, he's he's just had a great season and it's it's very, very difficult to see where Liverpool are going to replicate these numbers.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even if you were to look here see at his assist contribution, 17 assists in the Premier League, one in the domestic cup competitions, that was in the League Cup, and four in the Champions League.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's a total of 22. So 32 goals and 22 assists. That's 54 goals and assists just this season.
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are again coming to that really important part of the season where I don't want to say it's looking increasingly likely that he's going to leave, but I think it's very unusual for a player of his calibre, and obviously virgin Virgil van Dijk falls into that category as well, that their contracts have not yet been sorted out.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
His honours record is... You know, it reads very long. He's won everything in the game at club level with Liverpool. He's been African Footballer of the Year, back to back in 2017 and 2018. PFA Player Footballer of the Year 2018.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
two thousand and eighteen and twenty two he's been the football's right football writer's football of the year Premier League player of the season, 2018, 2019, 2022, Premier League golden boot winner.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, the list just goes on. And his fitness record as well is something that I think is is a thing that separates Salah from from other players is that he's always available.
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, he's played every single Premier League game this season. And bearing in mind that, as I said, he turns 33 in June. His fitness record is just a testament, I think, to his durability and the way that he looks after his body. He's in supreme physical condition.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I know that FSG have this policy of, you know, not really offering lucrative contracts to players who are into their 30s.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think he is an exception to that rule. And so the question is keep or sell. it's a It's a crazy question. But clearly it is being asked. It's being asked within the recruitment department. It's being asked...
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
within the know powers that be at FSG. Maybe it's not a question of whether he stays, but I think it's obviously a question of how much do they value him in terms of of salary and finances.
00:08:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm presuming that that's the reason why there is this kind of contract standoff that Salah thinks that he's worth a particular figure and FSG have yet to meet that figure.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I would say that it's a no brainer to extend his contract. And the reason I say that it's a no brainer, it's it's not to say that there is absolutely no risk that Salah's form would dip.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that because of his particular profile, he is the number one target and will probably always be the number one target for the Saudi league.
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so even if he were to give a three year contract, And in the unlikely event that Salah just, his form just falls off a cliff in a year's time, that's a two-year contract that the Saudis would have to pay out.
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we would get, I think, a significant transfer fee from the Saudis. If the Saudi factor is not there, then I think that FSG are probably justified to be a little bit more conservative in what they might offer Salah. But with Saudi, with the Saudis there, think it just mitigates any risk.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so for me, I would, I would give Salah the contract.
Jota's Injury and Squad Role
00:09:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if it doesn't work out, then you've got the Saudis in the background to, to mitigate that risk.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Next up on on that forward line, Diego Jota. Jota turned 29 in December and he was bought for £45 million pounds in 2020 from Wolves. His contract expires in June 2027, so a couple of years left on his contract. 174 in 64 goals and 22 assists.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
in total sixty four goals and twenty two assists And this season... in terms of his his gold contribution, he's his assist contribution, contribution he's got five goals in the Premier League and that is from 18 games.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
two Sorry, one goal in the FA Cup and two in the League Cup, none in the Champions League, a total of eight goals this season. And he's got three assists,
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And no assists in any of the cup competitions. It's it's a total of three. So eight goals and three assists. And it's just probably not enough.
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think one of the problems with Jota or one of the things I think that the recruitment department is, is mulling over is the fact that he hasn't played enough football this season and he doesn't play enough football in general.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He does tend to get injuries that keep him out of the of the team for, you know, two months at least. And it's a shame because he is one of our best finishers at the club. Along with Salah, he's our most reliable finisher.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's got a games to goals ratio of 2.7, which, you know, it's it's pretty good.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's pretty good. And if you were to compare that to Mohamed Salah's, obviously his his one is exceptional. He's got a games to goals ratio of 1.6.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think Jota is, I think he's a value he's been a valuable player for us. He's had a very poor second half to this season. When he came back from injury, he just hasn't looked himself. And that hasn't been the case in the past.
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had injuries before and he's had extended periods before. out of the team and he's one of those players that tends to come back into the side and just hit the ground running and score and he hasn't done that in this second half of the season and so the question is is that just because one of those things he just couldn't pick up form after that injury or is this the start of some kind of a decline and It is a question mark that we've got over our forward line.
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the average age of the forward line is creeping up and we need players that are reliable, not just in terms of goal scoring ability, but in terms of fitness.
00:13:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can be the best finisher in the world, but if if you're not available, you're you're no good to anyone. So. I think the the question of keep or sell for Jota, for me, I think it's a provisional keep.
Diaz's Performance and Future Prospects
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if a better player comes up, then I think we sell to buy
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Luis Diaz next up, 28 years old. He turns 29 in January. Again, kind of reiterating the fact that we we have a very experienced forward line and maybe it's time to start refreshing that and bringing in some fresher legs.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was bought from Porto in 2022 £50 million. twenty two for fifty million pounds his contract expires in June of 2027 which there's been a lot of speculation with Diaz and his links to Barcelona his camp, his father in particular has never hidden the fact that the Diaz camp really would like for their player to end up at Barcelona at some stage and
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's total He's kind of overall record with us, 140 appearances, 37 goals and 15 assists in total. If we look at this season, his availability has been good.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He hasn't been out injured. He's played 28 games in the Premier League, nine goals. One appearance in the FA Cup, obviously no goals.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Four appearances in the League Cup with one goal and three appearances in the Champions League. Is, I mean, is that enough?
00:15:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that enough of a return? That's 13 goals in all competitions this season. and he's got a total of 15 assists.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd say that's pretty decent. I think one of the criticisms that has been levelled at Luis Diaz in previous seasons is that his output is probably not where it should be in relation to the kind of threat that he poses.
00:15:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what I mean by that is that I think he's probably one of the best, if not the best dribbler in the Premier League. i I can't think of anyone who is better at taking on defenders, taking on full backs and getting out of really tight situations where he's surrounded by two or three players.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think the number of times that he does that and then the number of times that that then gets converted into goals or assists, I just probably think it's not enough.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that he could he could do with more. He had a really good start to the season. He was scoring. and regular assists. But I think the second half of the season, he's kind of reverted to type. He's gone back to the Luis Diaz that so that was criticised, where you know the the end product is probably just not enough. It's not there enough.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so the question with with Diaz, I think... I do love him as a player and he's one of those players that you can never accuse him of not putting in the effort because he runs himself into the ground every single game.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that with his age profile and,
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
the number of goals and assists that he does contribute on average.
Nunes' Form and Transfer Speculation
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that if an offer comes in let's say from Barcelona, a decent offer, and I would say, i would say 60 million pounds and upwards,
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
then i I think that Liverpool would probably let him go and look for someone that is younger and has a higher ceiling and can improve on those on those numbers, on the output in terms of goals and say So for me, it's sell for Luis Diaz reluctantly because I think he he is a he's a crowd favorite because he he just does. He does give it all. But I think that we could probably do better.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right next up, and we could probably do a whole podcast on this play and that is Darwin Nunes.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nunes turns 26 in June. He was bought for 65 million pounds plus add-ons. think the add-ons take it up to so in the region 80 million pounds.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
His contract expires in June 2028. So there's plenty left on that contract. which probably is a good thing for Liverpool in the sense that if we were to cut our losses, if we were to think that we can do better than Nunes, or if Nunes wanted to move on, then I think that we could recoup much of that fee that we that we gave to Benfica to get Nunes in.
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
His overall record with 136 appearances, forty goals and twenty two assess which is not terrible.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's We probably want more with the money that we've outlaid on him. He's got a games to goal ratio of 3.4, which again, I think that a number nine playing for Liverpool, I think, has got to be more in that kind of two category.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
This season, he's played 23 games the Premier League. games in the premier league five goals, no goals in the FA Cup. One goal in the League Cup, that's from six appearances, and one goal in the Champions League from nine appearances.
00:19:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a total of seven goals and five assists, two assists in the Premier League, one in each of the domestic cup competitions and one in Europe.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a total of five. So seven goals and five assists from our number nine. it's it's just It's just simply not enough.
00:19:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just not enough. And I think that, again, I think he's another player that, When I say that he's a crowd favourite, I think Liverpool fans tend not to turn on players who always give it their all, who give 100%, who really, really look as though they care and that they they don't throw their you know toys out the pram or or they don't show up, they don't put put the effort in.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
That said, and this has been said before, that should be a prerequisite when you play for Liverpool. And in fact, when you play for any club, you know, giving 100% is a prerequisite as a professional footballer.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the question is is, is he going to improve? he is now at an age. As I said, he's he's going to turn 26 this summer, which yeah yeah you're coming into the prime of your career now. you I don't think you can be classified now as a young player.
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think that some of those issues that he faces in front of goal, I think needed to to be ironed out. And, you know, most importantly, his composure in front of goal. So he he gets in good positions.
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he just doesn't show the composure. That's needed to to be an elite level striker, that kind of dead eye in front of goal, the coldness in front of goal, tends to be very good.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
at the instinctive finishes where he doesn't have to think. It's just an an instinctive finish. that Like he showed against Brentford, away at Brentford, where he got a crucial couple of goals for us and won us the game.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they were instinctive. so Certainly the first one was an instinctive finish. And the second goal where he had more time to think, I think, for me, even though he scored that, I think underlying underlines the problem with Nunes.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
if you If you go back and look at that second goal, he does really well to create space for himself. And from about seven or or eight yards away, instead of just placing the ball, he puts his head down and absolutely puts his foot through the ball.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the goalkeeper doesn't move because he's, you know, the striker seven or eight yards out. He's not really gonna have time to react or to dive. The goalkeeper doesn't move and the ball just misses the goalkeeper.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And for me that was an example of why Nunes is not, he's not as prolific as he could be because I think most other strikers, you know, a Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, they would just look at the goalkeeper and treat it like a penalty, just give him the eyes and slot either side of the of the goalkeeper.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I think that Nunes with, With that record, I think Liverpool have got a decision to make. I think if they're going to insist that he's going to be our number nine, I i don't think that that's going to work.
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, he could be deployed more as a winger and just utilise that pace and that aggression. and that unpredictability and, you know, put him out wide where he can he can cause mayhem. He can get behind defences and then assist whoever our number nine is going to be.
00:23:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think if we're going to say that he's going to number nine, i I just think that we would probably be better off selling him and using the money that we bring in to upgrade.
Gakpo's Growth Under New Management
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if he's staying as a number nine to sell or keep, I would say sell.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cody Gatpo. Next up in that forward line, Dutch international signed from PSV Eindhoven back in 2023 under Jurgen Klopp for £44 million. pounds he turns 26 in May.
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So again, i would say a good age, a good experience age for that front line. His contract expires in June of 2028. So no kind of fears of any kind of contract situation there at the moment.
00:24:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
he had a tough start under Jurgen Klopp it just looked like either we as a club Jurgen Klopp as a manager didn't really know where to play him and and where to get the best out of him and it was almost like when he arrived we as a fan base thought that he's our kind of Roberto Firmino replacement Good on the ball, you know, an eye for a pass, draws defenders in, maybe not the most lightning.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so we just look to him as a Firmino replacement. But I think this season under slot, he's played him in his preferred position, which is out wide on the left.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he just looks a different player. He looks stronger. He looks quicker. He's settled into slot style of play and to this team and developed into a really, really important member of this squad and probably the first 11.
00:25:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would say that at the start of the season, i I think if you asked most Liverpool supporters, Luis Diaz was the number one choice in that left wide forward slot.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Cody Gakpo was the kind of replacement. And as the season has gone on, I think it's neck and neck and sometimes Gakpo is the first choice.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think that he's his contribution to the team, I think, is more impactful. 119 games, 39 goals and 13 assists.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a games-to-goal ratio of 3.05. This season, you know he's played quite a number of games, 26 games in the Premier League, eight goals.
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
and No goals in the FA Cup. Obviously, we were knocked out quite early. He really enjoyed the League Cup. Five goals from six appearances and three in the Champions League.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of assists, three in the Premier League, one in the League Cup and two in the Champions League. That's a total of 16 goals in all competition and 13 assists in all competitions. And I'd say that's not a bad return.
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
For someone who's not an out-and-out striker, he's a wide forward. I think that's a pretty decent return. He did have an injury about a month back. It was at four to six weeks back, which I think really kind of derailed the second half of his career.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
season night And I think that was a really, really crucial kind of blow for us. He lost a lot of the momentum for that crucial period of the season. And when he came back, he came on as a sub against PSG in that second leg.
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he just looked so short of form and fitness and just couldn't impact the game at all. And similarly in the League Cup final. So, but I think a full, fully fit Gakpo, I think is a really valuable part of this squad and part of that team.
Chiesa's Role and Utilization Debate
00:27:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So for me, keep or sell, it's definitely keep.
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Finally, The last man in this forward line, Federico Chiesa, also known as Freddy Church amongst the Liverpool fan base.
00:27:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Italian international, signed from Juventus for really a cut price of £12 million, twelve million pounds I should say. He turns 28 in October.
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Contract expires in the summer of 2028, which eight I think don't think there's any contract situation with Chiesa. The fee that we paid was so low that I don't think there's any doubt that we'd get that back in some way, shape or form.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's not much to say about his contributions in terms of goals and assists this season. Just because he just hasn't played enough.
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he he's only had three appearances in the Premier League, no goals. He got a goal in the FA Cup. He got one goal in the League Cup and none in the Champions League. Obviously, he got that important goal in the League Cup final, which didn't turn out to be anything. But...
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think that there's just not enough of a body of work there to do Chiesa any kind of justice. I think he's he's a really good player. I think he's quick. He's very positive when he comes on.
00:28:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's an understudy to Mohamed Salah. So as long as Salah at the club, it's always going to be difficult for him to get a game. But I do think that Slott should have utilised him more.
00:29:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe on the other side, on the other flank, just to shake things up. I think he he is capable of playing on both sides. You know, it's not it's not as if Diaz and Nunes were scoring every, you know, every week. And and especially when Gatpo got injured, I think that Chiesa should have been used more to put more pressure on Diaz.
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So keep or sell? I think it's... It's a difficult one. You can't get rid of everyone. And unless we sign someone that is just demonstrably better, I would probably opt to keep him because I think he can be a valuable member of the squad.
Strengthening Liverpool's Forward Line
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So where, if any, to you know, where do we need to strengthen in that forward line? I think there is, I think there's work to be done. Whether Liverpool can do this all in one summer, bearing in mind the issues that we've probably got in defence in those left back positions.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
The fact that Van Dijk, we don't know whether he's going to be there next season. Canate is out of contract the following season. So, you know, do Liverpool cash in?
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Trent Alexander-Arnold is all but out of the door. So there's a right back spot to be filled. So there is, you know, I would say probably a lot of work to be done, certainly in that in the defence.
00:30:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
and potentially that can have a knock-on effect on our forward line. But in terms of transfer targets, the ones that have been linked to Liverpool for quite a while now, one is Alexander Izak at Newcastle.
00:30:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think that he is, no surprise, but I think he is an excellent number nine. And I... I really, I thought that he was one that Liverpool were going to go for ah before Newcastle Newcastle got in.
00:31:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i think they paid something like 60, 65 million pounds for him. So it's not going to be cheap to get him out of the door. But I do think that if, if Liverpool is serious, I do think that if Liverpool go for Isaac, I think that he would want to come to Liverpool simply because,
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He knows that he would be competing for big trophies. He's going to be competing at the top end of the Premier League. He'll be in the Champions League. He'll be fighting on all fronts. there's two big questions for Liverpool, for the recruitment department and for FSG.
00:31:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
One is the transfer fee. Some of the reports doing the rounds that Newcastle would be looking for £150 million. pounds I just don't think that Liverpool are in that market. I don't think that we would go to that level.
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unless unless we offload. Someone like Nunes, let's say if you were to sell him to the Saudis for 80 or 90 million pounds.
00:32:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does that mean then 60 million pounds. Addition to get Isaac is something that we can stomach. Possibly. But I think that's the the one big question is the transfer fee.
00:32:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think if it's around, don't think it's goingnna be less than £100 million. pounds Newcastle are paid £60, £65. They're not going to sell him for £70, £75. seventy five I'd be very surprised if they did.
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i'm I'm looking at £100 million pounds and I think £100 million, pounds if you were to sell Nunes for anything above £60 million, I think that it's worth getting exact in. The other thing that I think,
00:32:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
the Liverpool recruitment department would be looking at is his injury record. He does get injured every season. And I think that that is something that we would have to, to look at and to consider.
00:33:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
The last thing we'd want, we want to do is to go from the likes of Diego Jota and, you spend a hundred million pounds on Isaac, who again, excellent finisher, but then he's out for two months every season.
Transfer Targets and Missed Opportunities
00:33:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's something that, we'd we'd really have to look one is Gordon.
00:33:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
the other one is anthony gordon He's a scouser. He's also at Newcastle. so I think I said in the last podcast that I'd like to get Grimmaris as well, the Newcastle midfielder.
00:33:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it looks like we're we're targeting Newcastle. But I think Anthony Gordon, again, looks to have been a longstanding interest. And it looked like last season Joe Gomez was going to be made make-weight in a deal to bring Gordon in.
00:34:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that I'd like to see Anthony Gordon live at Liverpool. I think that he's someone who is is' quick, he's direct, he's a scouser, he's a Liverpool supporter.
00:34:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And even though that his output has not been that great at Newcastle, and it's almost like a contradiction that we're going from someone like Luis Diaz, who's been criticised for not...
00:34:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
for not scoring as as many goals as he should. But i think that I think that there's more of a ceiling with Anthony Gordon. i think there's I think there's another couple of levels for him to go. And if we were to bring him in, I think that he would...
00:34:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He would find those levels at Liverpool. So I think he's another one. But again, the transfer fee, I think is going to be big sticking point. But if we were in for him last season, then there's no reason why that can't happen again this season.
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another player to look out for is Victor Ossiman. He's on loan at Galatasaray. That loan deal ends at the end of this season. He had a fallout at Napoli and i think he is an excellent striker. There's just no doubt about his quality, but I think there's a big question mark over his character, whether he's someone that is going to be a good character. He's not going to be someone that that comes in and rocks the boat.
00:35:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Liverpool known to be very, very careful when it comes to you know, choosing the right kind of character to be in the squad. So in terms of in terms of his ability, I don't think there's any doubt that Victor Osman is someone that a club like Liverpool would look at, particularly if they're in the market for a number nine.
00:36:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think a lot of work would have to be done, and I'm sure it's already been done in terms of what kind of character he is yeah to see whether, you know, he'd be someone that's... that could fit in at Liverpool.
00:36:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a couple of players that I want to mention because I'm i'm really, I'm kind of surprised and was annoyed at the time that we didn't go in for because I thought that they were absolutely ideal for Liverpool Football Club. football club but Both of them snapped up in the January transfer window, one by Man City, one by PSG.
00:36:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
City got Omar Mahmouche and PSG got Kovaric Skelia. And I think that's the first time I've ever said his name correctly. But I thought Mahmouche.
00:36:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
leaving aside the fact that he's Egyptian, you know, that's just, you know, that's just one of those things that, you know, people, people love to mention, you know, Salah's Egyptian, Marmouche is Egyptian. So yeah, if, if they're both playing in the same team, obviously there's going to be a synergy there and it's going to help Marmouche to, to settle in.
00:37:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even as a, a replacement, I just think that he was absolutely ideal to come in and and and play in those wide positions, whether it's on the left-hand side or the right-hand side. I just think that he's got the pace.
00:37:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that he's got the the ability and the flexibility to play across that front line. And I really am surprised that Liverpool didn't go in for him. At 60 million pounds, I think that that was a good price.
00:37:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he's just going to get better and better in the Premier League. And the other one was Kovarac-Skelia. That's the second time I've said his name correctly. Who, you know, we saw firsthand when we played PSG, what this player can bring.
00:38:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's two footed. He can play it. He can play either side on the on the right wing, on the left wing. He can shoot with both feet. I thought that he he was an absolute,
00:38:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just thought he was a great target. I thought he was a great player for Liverpool to go for. And I would see him as a long-term successor to Salah if Salah was to sign a new contract or an and or and a immediate successor if Salah leaves in the summer.
00:38:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, the you know, the price that PSG paid, I think, was around about the £60-65 million mark, which I think for for someone of his age, his profile, his ability, I think was a really, really good price. So I think those are two players that Liverpool have really, they've missed the boat on.
00:39:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they've missed out on two very, very good players who could have, I think, have solved a lot of the potential problems that we might find moving forward with this with this front line.
00:39:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it is a summer that I think could be a huge one for Liverpool. you know we'll see what the next few months brings. I think it's going to be a huge summer of change and upheaval. And I've mentioned in previous episodes that this is going to be the summer rebuild.
00:39:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's next season that could be our season of transition. Everyone thought it was going to be this season because Klopp left and Arnie Slott was installed as a new manager, but because the players stay the same, because Slott didn't, or he wasn't allowed to bribe in new players.
00:39:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think this is going to be the season of transitionion transition. So I think it's going to be a really, really interesting few months as we head into that summer transfer window.
00:40:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that is all for today. Don't forget to follow us on your preferred podcast platform so that you get the very latest content when it drops. Follow us on social media at GSPN Liverpool.
00:40:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can email us at gspndailyliverpool at gmail.com. Join us again next week as we begin our build up to next Wednesday's Moseyside Derby. Until next time.
00:40:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you for listening.