Newcastle United’s growing interest in Hugo Ekitike could boil down to any number of reasons, but the minds of Liverpool fans will no doubt be drawn toward the possibility of signing Alexander Isak.
Certainly, it makes little sense for the Magpies to fork out £86m on Eintracht Frankfurt’s covetous centre-forward only for him to contest with Isak for the focal berth. It’s a tussle he’s apt to lose, relegating himself to the backbenches or at least as the second fiddle to Eddie Howe’s offensive instrument.
Of course, there’s the possibility that Ekitike will jockey with the Sweden international for a term or two before taking his place upon an eventual transfer to one of Europe’s true powerhouses. Like Liverpool, perhaps.
But then Arne Slot isn’t going to want to hang about for a new number nine, one who can replace Darwin Nunez. A resolution of some regard will be reached this summer, bringing a striker to Anfield’s pitch.
FSG are proving themselves to be incisive now that they have returned to the pinnacle, champions of the Premier League. Just look at Liverpool’s move for Florian Wirtz.
Why Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz
When Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, Slot knew his team needed to replace the creativity of a man who had been described in the past being “like having Kevin de Bruyne playing at right-back” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.
It would have been negligible to have attempted to sign a cardboard cutout at right-back, so instead, signing a world-class playmaker like Wirtz to nestle into midfield made much more sense. He cost a British record £116m, but it’s likely to be money well spent all the same.
The attacking midfielder, indeed, ranked among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe last season for both shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Looking at his accomplishments in Germany’s top flight, it’s easy to forget that Wirtz is a 22-year-old who has already rebounded from a potentially detrimental ACL injury.
But that brutal setback in 2022 has only fuelled his ascent to the realm of the world-class.
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32 (26)
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17 (11)
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For now, we wait with bated breath for the German international to grace the Premier League and lead Liverpool toward further riches.
Liverpool often strike gold when raiding the Bundesliga, and they appear ready to do so once more before the summer market slams shut, repeating their Wirtz acquisition.
Liverpool in contact to sign new striker
If Liverpool are to replace Nunez this summer, they will want to sign a striker fit for a Premier League title defence. Isak or Ekitike would do the trick, but an alternative pick has also been earmarked in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenian striker, 22, has been on Arsenal’s radar for a long time, but the Gunners are pushing ahead with a move for Viktor Gyokeres, thus opening the door for Liverpool to pounce.
That’s according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, anyway, who revealed that Sesko’s agents have been in contact with Liverpool over a potential summer deal, offering his services to the Reds.
It’s unclear, however, whether the Bundesliga outfit will be inclined to budge on their €90m (£78m) valuation – a figure which proved to end Arsenal’s interest.
What Benjamin Sesko would bring to Liverpool
Sesko is a raw talent but one whose ceiling stretches far above the potential of most other forwards. His power and predatory instinct suggest he has what it takes to become a superstar in the Premier League.
Standing at 6 foot 5 but blessed with the high-speed running and ability to use his physicality to a great effect, he’s been hailed as a “monster” in the final third by analyst Ben Mattinson, who continued to remark he’s “raw but has excellent fundamentals”.
With some fine tweaks and Slot-led coaching, he could prove to be one of the very best in the English top flight, something talent scout Jacek Kulig definitely believes is within his grasp, having gone as far as to dub him “the new Haaland”.
It’s clear that this young and rising star could emulate Wirtz in travelling to England from Germany and becoming a superstar. The latter, of course, hasn’t actually kicked a ball in the country yet, but he’s regarded as one of the world’s best all the same.
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RB Salzburg
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RB Salzburg
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FC Liefering
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FC Liefering
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As you can see, Sesko has improved steadily, continually, establishing himself as the kind of striker who can provide a steady source of goals in a top-five European division like the Bundesliga.
And he’s going to be supported and developed with a partnership with Wirtz, for sure. But more to the point, Sesko has the potential to become a superstar of equal proportions, so mobile and dynamic in his play, ranked among the top 11% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Then, of course, Sesko’s goalscoring ability, the way in which he swings his leg and connects with ridiculous power (something Jurgen Klopp would attest to), emphasises that Haaland-esque ability that underscores his world-class potential.
Liverpool would be taking something of a risk by forking out a significant sum for a player who has yet to reach their potential, but Sesko has all the properties of a Liverpool-level forward, leading the line across a period of sustained success.
Given their success in raiding the Bundesliga, Liverpool might just want to take the punt, quickly repeating what promises to be a triumph in bringing Wirtz over from Bayer Leverkusen.
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