Liverpool fans will be praying that Mohamed Salah stays beyond the summer amid their goalscoring problems.
Throughout the season, Jurgen Klopp didn’t have issues with his Liverpool team putting the ball into the back of the net.
But it has become a big problem in recent weeks, with Salah’s form dropping off and Diogo Jota still having injury issues.
Without the duo, the Reds don’t have a reliable goalscorer because Luis Diaz’s form has fallen off, Cody Gakpo hasn’t hit the heights required, and Darwin Nunez simply can’t be trusted in the final third.
Therefore, when Arne Slot comes in, it will be interesting to see if he addresses that issue and possibly looks to buy an out-and-out striker.
Even if Salah doesn’t leave, Liverpool still need to look at the long-term for a goalscorer and there is no better time to start than this summer.
The Premier League is blessed to have some of the best goalscorers on the planet.
From the Treble-winner Erling Haaland, Aston Villa’s Champions League-chasing hitman Ollie Watkins and the underrated Dominic Solanke of Bournemouth.
But Tim Sherwood thinks Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has the ‘whole package’ and he is a player Liverpool would sign if they had the chance, as he told Premier League Productions (29/04/24 at 5:50 pm).
The 24-year-old has 19 Premier League goals this season from 26 matches – and has only completed 90 minutes on 13 occasions.
Sherwood compared Isak to the likes of Michael Owen, Les Ferdinand and Thierry Henry, which is some comparison given what the trio achieved in their glittering goalscoring careers.
Before adding how Manchester City would be the only team who wouldn’t want to sign him amid his performances this season at St James’ Park.
Alexander Isak at Liverpool
“I think every team in the Premier League, bar Manchester City, would take him now,” said Sherwood about Isak. “It’s going to be an awful lot of money, though.
“He has got the whole package. He has got the pace, the ability and the awareness. The special one he has got is the calmness and coldness in front of the goal. He can change. One day he is Les Ferdinand and the next day is Thierry Henry. He has a little bit of Michael Owen. He has a mixture of pretty much everyone. It’s just a joy to watch and it’s poetry in motion.
“We have seen Nunez recently. I don’t want to be critical of other players, but this boy (Isak) finds corners rather than just trying to hit the target.”
Striker demand
It seems as though many teams across the Premier League want that all-important striker at their disposal.
Even Arsenal, who are sitting at the top of the Premier League table, have constantly been hit with that lack of number nine tag, even though they are the top scorers in the division.
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The likes of Chelsea have proven how to throw many down the drain. That’s why the strikers performing are very valuable to their team.
Given the crazy nature of the transfer market, you would have to pay over the odds and beyond £100 million for players like Isak now.
That’s why keeping Salah is key because many would then start to worry about who puts the ball in the back of the net for the team if he leaves along with Klopp.
