If Richard Hughes isn’t careful, he’ll eliminate any chance of Liverpool supporters getting excited by the summer transfer window before it’s even begun.
This, of course, is because FSG are working overtime to wrap up three superstar signings before the 2024/25 campaign has even completely wrapped up. There are worse problems for fans to have, in fairness.
The defensive flanks are set to be secure for years to come, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong having completed his medical and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez currently the centre of advancing talks between Bournemouth and Anfield’s chiefs.
But it’s forwards the fans want. Always forwards. It’s forwards who are the seat-raisers, the ones who steal the headlines. The rumour mill’s spokes are spinning, and Liverpool are getting linked with a few interesting names, all right.
The latest on Liverpool's hunt for forwards
With a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz in the works, Liverpool are close to wrapping up their principal summer activity nice and early.
However, some would point to the number nine position as the area in most urgent need of improvement, and fixing that conundrum would require one or both of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez to be sold, the latter of whom is wanted by Saudi suitors and in Spain.
Liverpool have bided their time in the transfer market, only bringing Federico Chiesa into the squad since Jurgen Klopp capped off his midfield rebuild with the arrival of Ryan Gravenberch in August 2023 (a £29m deal for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was agreed last summer, though he remained with Valencia this year).
But now is the time for action. Luis Diaz continues to be linked with Barcelona and, perhaps consequently, rumours of interest in Anthony Gordon have resurfaced, as per Football Insider.
However, Gordon is valued at £100m by Newcastle United and with Wirtz hopefully arriving, this doesn’t make a great deal of sense.
That said, Chiesa has struggled for minutes since joining, and Mohamed Salah isn’t getting any younger. Securing some fresh back-up on the right wouldn’t be a terrible idea.
Liverpool join race for new forward
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are being considered one of the main suitors for Maghnes Akliouche this summer, with the French winger informed he can leave Monaco if their €70m (£59m) valuation is met.
A host of English outfits are keen, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all keeping tabs on his situation, although Liverpool are the club said to be ‘showing a strong interest’.
No talks have taken place with any suitor, so this may be a case of who can open contracts with Monaco and the player’s representatives first.
What Maghnes Akliouche would offer Liverpool
A creative player, the 23-year-old Akliouche has enjoyed a steady ascent since breaking from Monaco’s youth ranks and becoming an important part of their first-team plans.
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43 (38)
7
12
23/24
31 (19)
8
4
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13 (6)
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He would have to contend with the competition of Salah for a starting berth, were he to join Liverpool, but this could prove worthwhile for a rising star looking to make their name, only two seasons into their professional career as a first-team regular.
Absorbing the fruits of the Egyptian King’s labours, Akliouche may well shape into one of the most dangerous wingers in the business, having already been hailed for his “ridiculous” quality by analyst Ben Mattinson.
This is backed up by the data. As per FBref, Akliouche ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this term for assists, the top 11% for progressive passes, and the top 12% for tackles plus interceptions made per 90.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.
Sofascore’s data from the 2024/25 Ligue 1 campaign further highlights Akliouche’s creative capacity, having created 15 big chances across 27 matches, averaging 1.6 dribbles and 4.5 successful duels per game.
Moreover, talent scout Jacek Kuliig has hailed the “magician” for brandishing a “left foot made of gold” when arcing into space, in or around the danger area.
Remind you of anyone? Salah’s wizardry on the ball certainly suggests he too could adopt the ‘magician’ moniker, while his left foot is one of the most lethal weapons in football.
Joining Liverpool from AS Roma for £34m in 2017, Salah, 25 at the time, was looking to try his hand at the Premier League a second time after things didn’t work out at Chelsea.
Now, 401 games, 245 goals, 113 assists and many individual and team accolades later, the 32-year-old has achieved greatness, forging a career for himself that will have sold Anfield to hopefuls such as Akliouche, especially since he’s tempted by a move across the Channel and onto English shores.
Salah’s story isn’t ending yet, but we’re not that far away from the autumn of this legend’s Premier League career. It would help if Liverpool act prudently and bring in a player such as Akliouche, up-and-coming like the African icon was before signing.
Salah, one of the deadliest forwards the Premier League has ever known, will leave big boots to fill, but backing him up with a hungry prospect such as Akliouche could be a sure-fire way for Slot to challenge across multiple fronts next season, especially since the Liverpool superstar will miss a chunk of the winter period due to AFCON.
For what it’s worth, you’d think Akliouche would leap at the chance to move to Merseyside and work with the veteran, treading a similar sort of path in arriving from a competitive European outfit having shown his skills, but then learning at Anfield a new level of the craft which could take him into the realm of the world-class.
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