Home-Made Rumour Mongering: Benign, Nine and a Half
We look at some transfer options should the Reds look to revamp their front line.
Julian Alvarez may not be coming, but odds are Liverpool will be seeing some player turnover on their front line this summer. While Arne Slot used Santiago Gimenez — currently putting up decent but unspectacular numbers at AC Milan — to great effect as a spearhead number nine for Feyenoord last year, the Reds head coach seems committed to an approach with a central striker who drops deeper and partakes in build-up to a greater extent.
The man himself calls it a nine and half, and it suits Darwin Núñez — who would prefer, and excels at, chasing balls down the channels all day — not at all, and while Diogo Jota has occasionally looked a good fit for the role, the Portuguese forward just cannot stay healthy, and has since his most recent return cut a frustrated figure up top, with zero goals and just a solitary assist in his last ten appearances.
Assuming the system demands remain unchanged, then, it seems obvious personnel changes will be made, and while players will likely have to be sold before somebody new is brought in, both for financial and squad construction purposes, we’re going to go ahead and assume that happens, offering up three options for who might be a decent fit should things move ahead. To wit:
The We Got False Nine at Home: As he proved against Manchester City, Dominik Szoboszlai has all the attributes necessary to feature in the nine and a half role. While he lacks the raw pace to burn defenders in transition, the Hungarian has the size to rival them in physical battles, winning nearly 50% of his aerial duels, excels at identifying and occupying available pockets in the half-spaces, can pick a pass, can absolutely batter one from range, and can make late runs into the area to finish off chances after the ball has been worked down the flanks.
Add an engine that lets him set the press all day, and you have what feels like a ready-made solution already, one that allows you to explore targets of opportunity for other positions, say a world class attacking midfielder to sit behind and combine with the former RB Leipzig man.
The Brazil 2 - Brighton Bogaloo: The last time Liverpool put a 23-year old Brazilian in the false nine role it worked out pretty alright, as Roberto Firmino interpreted the role in a selfless manner that allowed his wingmen Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to shine furiously for the entire reign of the iconic trio. João Pedro shares a nationality, age and position with Firmino, and while questions may be asked about whether he possesses the same humility, he has displayed the necessary quality to perform the role in his two years at Brighton.
First brought to England from Fluminense by Watford back in 2019, Pedro showed enough promise that never-missers Brighton eventually shelled out €35m for him four years later. Typically Brazilian on the ball, the twice-capped international ranks in the 90th percentile or higher among forwards for every creative metric you could think of, and while a lower shot volume and somewhat underwhelming conversion rate could have fans hesitating, his numbers line up eerily well with those of his compatriot.
The Get Isak Early Redux: Listen, we all think Alexander Isak is great. Tall, dribbly, fast, devastating finisher, can lead the line, drop deep, drift wide, run behind, and win a header. He’s also gonna cost 150 million and demand Mo Salah wages, if Blood Money FC can even be convinced to part with him at all. It is, in all likelihood, not happening, and even if it did, it might not be worth it.
But! What if we could pick him up when he was still a skinny young lad tearing it up on the continent? Back when he was in his early 20s and scoring or assisting a goal every 115 minutes for a decent side in a Top 5 League, while showing proof of all the ancillary skills that would make him such a complete forward just a few years later?
Well, wonderful news because Hugo Ekitiké exists, and he’s tall, dribbly, fast, a devastating finisher, can lead the line, drop deep, drift wide, run behind, and even win a header. Honestly, the Frenchman is a better player this season than Isak was at the same age, and while development curves are never parallel or linear, the campaign he’s having for Frankfurt after showing promise last year should have bigger clubs salivating.
He’d be half the price, fits the role, and has better underlying goal involvement metrics than Mohamed Salah this season. Manchester City went for the flashy hot streak Frankfurter in Omar Marmoush back in January. Liverpool should go get the better player in the summer.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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