Journalist Names Four Strikers Liverpool Could Sign This Summer | OneFootball

Liverpool Eye Centre-Forward Rebuild as Darwin Nunez Faces Exit

Liverpool’s forward line could be in for a summer shake-up as speculation grows around Darwin Nunez’s future. According to a report by talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, the club has already drawn up a shortlist of four potential replacements for the under-fire Uruguayan striker. With internal discussions well underway, it signals a proactive approach from Anfield’s recruitment hierarchy — and a possible changing of the guard up front.

Clear Intent Behind Nunez Planning

The decision to begin assessing options even before a formal offer for Nunez has emerged is telling. As Jacobs reported, “Liverpool are already assessing options to replace Nunez internally,” which indicates how real the possibility of his departure has become.

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Nunez’s form has been inconsistent, to put it mildly. He managed just five Premier League goals last season, and as the report points out, Liverpool potentially saved a “sizeable bonus payment” by restricting his playing time late in the campaign. This, coupled with reported interest from Saudi Arabia, makes his exit not just plausible, but financially sensible.

Shortlist Reflects New Liverpool Strategy

The four names identified — Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, and Joao Pedro — each offer a different profile but share one common trait: potential. Isak, already a proven Premier League forward at Newcastle, would be the most expensive of the lot but also the readiest to step in. Sesko and Ekitike have drawn admiring glances in the Bundesliga, while Pedro has impressed with Brighton, scoring 10 league goals last season.

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What links these players isn’t just their age or technical ability, but their tactical flexibility — a key requirement under Arne Slot’s high-intensity system. As Jacobs notes, “Liverpool’s strategy under Richard Hughes appears clear: secure younger, tactically flexible players who can thrive in high-intensity systems.”

Slot’s Influence and Summer Planning

Winning the Premier League in his first season, Slot has swiftly justified FSG’s decision to move on from the Jürgen Klopp era. Now, attention turns to building a team that can sustain success. While Nunez never fully convinced tactically or emotionally, Slot’s preference for intelligence and fluidity in attack points to a forward line reshaped around movement and interplay rather than raw chaos.

That Liverpool are already working behind the scenes aligns with their broader transfer strategy this window. The club’s focus on cost-effective, future-proof decisions — such as the potential sale of Caoimhin Kelleher funding interest in Florian Wirtz — is shaping a deliberate, modernised squad model.

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As Jacobs summarises, “Replacing [Nunez] will require precision — and those four names represent very different profiles.” In other words, Liverpool aren’t scrambling, they’re scheming.

Calculated Gamble or Strategic Evolution?

A Nunez exit, while divisive among fans, could be symbolic of a shift in Liverpool’s identity. The days of heavy-metal football may be replaced with Slot’s rhythm and reason. Should any of the four shortlisted players arrive, it would mark another step towards evolution, not revolution — and reinforce the belief that Liverpool plan on staying at the top.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

For Liverpool fans, the potential exit of Darwin Nunez stirs mixed emotions. The passion, unpredictability, and flashes of brilliance made him a cult figure. But five league goals in a title-winning campaign? That’s simply not sustainable for a club chasing domestic and European dominance.

Slot’s ruthlessness in reshaping the attack should be applauded. He doesn’t appear to be sentimental. If a striker doesn’t suit the system, he’s out — no matter the transfer fee or the chaos he can bring. That’s the kind of decisiveness we need if Liverpool are to remain competitive on all fronts.

Alexander Isak feels like the dream option, but will FSG sanction the fee? Sesko is raw, Pedro might not move the needle enough, and Ekitike could be a gamble. Yet all four represent a shift towards intelligence and control — exactly what Slot’s system demands.

Fans should also note the financial savvy behind these moves. If Nunez’s sale opens the door to multiple reinforcements, including someone like Wirtz, it’s a strategy that deserves backing.

This is Liverpool adapting, not panicking — and if they pull it off, it could extend our dominance well into the next era.