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

At first of the season, Arne Slot confronted a couple of questions concerning 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, will be discovered on this present Liverpool staff. It is like a kind of lenticular work that shift when shifting to completely 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 load of the duty and the bereftness of exercise throughout 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 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 instances as he battles accidents. With Darwin Nunez’s future considerably unclear too, FSG might authorise a press release signing this yr – and even perhaps this month.

Liverpool eyeing new ahead

As per Sky Sports activities, 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 difficulty.

Mbeumo’s a prized signature after his prolific performances within the Premier League this time period, with dependable reviews suggesting that Newcastle United are additionally within the race and prepared 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 searching for a approach out, this could possibly be the right transfer to bolster Slot’s thriving frontline.

Bryan Mbeumo’s season in numbers

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

Becoming a member of from Troyes in French Ligue 2 in 2019, Mbeumo has achieved modern-legend standing in west London and, nonetheless solely 24 years outdated, 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 Yr’s Day was his forty fifth for the reason that begin of the 2022/23 marketing campaign, putting him seventh within the division since that timeframe, straight behind Alexander Isak.

He is at all times there, searching down targets, however he isn’t only a marksman. As per FBref, Mbeumo truly 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 package deal.

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

And Isak. Nicely. Would not Liverpool wish to signal the sort of ahead who might replicate a few of 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 could possibly be that sort of striker for Liverpool, one who can shift between quantity 9 and the flank.

It could possibly be an irresistible recipe for fulfillment. In spite of everything, Slot has demonstrated by Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz that he’s prepared to discipline huge gamers in central hanging roles to nice impact.

For instance, Mbeumo has scored 20 Premier League targets for the reason that summer time of 2023, lacking solely 14 massive possibilities in that timeframe, as per Sofascore.

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

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

He ranks among the many high 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 will see that Mbeumo would implement a tactical technique that would negate Nunez’s function, his experience whereas bringing a complete new innovative to enrich the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo.

Whereas Mbeumo would not present Liverpool with the ball-striking capacity of Isak, they may mimic it in their very own type. 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.