Liverpool have plenty of work to do in the summer transfer window as they begin the Arne Slot era.
During Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club, the Reds became well known for being wily operators in the market.
Most of that was down to the obsessive brilliance of Michael Edwards. And as Edwards returns in the form of FSG’s CEO of football, supporters will be expecting more of the same under Slot.
There’s still a little way to go before the window opens, but you can bet that plans are already being formulated by Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes.
Using a data-led approach, Liverpool have never been afraid of thinking outside the box when it comes to new signings. And with reports that they’re looking for a new wide player doing the rounds, we think we might have found one for them.
Liverpool should target Jaden Philogene
Exactly what Liverpool are looking for in their new wide player remains to be seen. However, with journalist Ben Jacobs suggesting that it may be someone in the mould of Crysencio Summerville, we think get the picture.
Just as before under Edwards, it seems Liverpool want a young forward who has played a decent amount of football but has lots of room to grow further.
Well, if Summerville is one the table, then we see no reason why Jaden Philogene of Hull City shouldn’t be, too.
Just like Summerville, Philogene is playing in the Championship this season. And as the Leeds man has lit up the division, winning the player of the year award recently, his Hull counterpart has too.
Philogene has scored 12 goals from the left wing, some of them absolutely ridiculous in their quality. At 22, he has a high ceiling and with almost 100 senior games under his belt is not a flash in the pan.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about Philogene though is his link-up with on-loan Liverpool man Fabio Carvalho. With Carvalho set to benefit from Slot’s appointment and get another chance at Anfield, signing his mate from Hull might just be the smartest move Liverpool could pull.
Philogene and Fabio Carvalho link-up hailed
In the midst of an excellent half-season with Hull, Carvalho has admitted that he’s looking for a fresh start at Liverpool next term.
The 21-year-old has shown his quality while back in the Championship and if the Reds can get the best out of him, he’ll be a real asset.
And in regards to that, perhaps they should listen to what former Sheffield Wednesday defender Andy Hinchliffe has had to say about both Carvalho and Philogene.
“I think Fabio Carvalho has stolen a lot of the headlines and rightly so, but Jaden Philogene has been outstanding – four goals in his last five games (before the game with Ipswich),” the Sky Sports pundit said via Hull Live. “And I think Philogene and Carvalho make them so dangerous.”
Obviously, it’s a big step up from the second to the first division, let alone the jump from Hull to Liverpool. But if the Reds want to make a bold move, then signing Philogene might just give Slot a two-for-one boost.