Ornstein: Liverpool draw up striker shortlist amid transfer uncertaint | OneFootball

Liverpool’s No 9 Puzzle: Pre-Season, Transfers and the Hunt for Firepower

Tributes in Preston, Business in Motion

Liverpool’s pre-season curtain-raiser at Preston North End on Sunday was always going to carry a sombre tone. The death of Diogo Jota has shaken the club to its core, and the tributes that dominated the occasion were as heartfelt as they were heavy. Football, for all its tribalism, has a way of pausing in moments like this.

But while grief weighs on hearts, the football calendar waits for no one. Arne Slot handed minutes to new arrivals Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, two signings that hint at a well-prepared recruitment plan already in motion. Still, there is a glaring need to add further firepower before the serious business begins in August. As reported by David Ornstein in The Athletic.

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Gap in the Centre Forward Role

Liverpool’s recent strategy has centred around strength in depth across their front three. With options stacked on the wings, Diaz and Gakpo on the left, Salah and Frimpong on the right, the centre is the concern. There is no clear first-choice No 9.

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Federico Chiesa has been floated as a possibility, but his profile leans more towards a wide forward. Meanwhile, Napoli and Al Hilal are monitoring Darwin Nunez, whose Liverpool career has been anything but straightforward. The club appear ready to move on if the price is right.

Nunez, despite flashes of promise, managed only seven goals in 47 appearances last season. “He only started eight Premier League matches,” David Ornstein notes, “with Slot preferring to play Luis Diaz as a false nine as he felt the Colombian was better suited to his system.”

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Targets Under Review

Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, is now focused on securing a genuine centre-forward. Several names have been considered. Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, and Joao Pedro all fit the bill. Hugo Ekitike is another name that has surfaced, while Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, admired by Hughes from his Bournemouth days, would have been a strong option if not tied to Stamford Bridge.

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Isak and Ekitike remain under consideration, though each would come with significant complications, be they financial or contractual. Chelsea, meanwhile, seem well stocked after recruiting both Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Decision Time on Nunez

There is still admiration for Nunez within sections of the fanbase. His energy, commitment and occasional match-winning moments cannot be denied. But football is ultimately judged in cold numbers. A meagre return of seven goals does not justify leading the line for a team chasing major honours.

“If Liverpool can get £60million for Nunez they should cash in,” Ornstein states. That fee could fund a more clinical and composed presence in the box. Florian Wirtz has been considered as a possible solution in the 4-2-3-1 system, although he thrives when playing slightly deeper. The need for a specialist striker remains.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Supporters expecting a title defence won’t be content going into the season without a proven centre-forward. The experiment with Diaz as a false nine has its merits in theory, but over the course of a 38-game season, it lacks the consistency and goal return needed to win major trophies.

Most fans still like Nunez. He plays with emotion, he presses, he cares. But he’s had chances, and the numbers don’t lie. Seven goals in 47 appearances just won’t cut it for a team with Liverpool’s ambition. If Saudi Arabia or Napoli come knocking with serious money, the club should not hesitate. That £60million could go a long way toward securing a complete forward who can thrive in Slot’s structured attack.

The idea of landing someone like Isak is mouth-watering, even if it’s unlikely. But Liverpool need to be bold. Go after a player who will transform this side from a contender into a champion again. The time for patience is over. It’s time to fix the No 9 position properly.