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Liverpool have specific attribute they are looking for in a No. 9 this summer

Liverpool have already bought attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and they could now be looking to sign a striker, but any forward acquisition will need to have one particular key attribute.

With Darwin Nunez listed for sale and Diogo Jota coming off the back of another inconsistent season, the Reds are in the market for a forward.

At differing levels, Alexander Isak, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko have all been linked with the Reds.

Something Liverpool’s next No. 9 will need for certain, whoever that may be, is versatility.

The Mail‘s Merseyside football reporter, Lewis Steele, said: “I had a text from someone basically saying Liverpool want versatile forwards, they want young forwards, someone who can sort of play all three positions maybe.

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup fifth round match at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. Picture date: Sunday March 2, 2025.

“And I suppose that rules out quite a few players, but Slot is keen on that versatile aspect.”

That ability to be flexible for the team is something both Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have both shown in recent years, but Arne Slot could benefit from having a more natural goalscorer through the middle.

“The word is Liverpool want that versatile forward who can play across the front line, so I guess it’s a case of wait and see on that one,” Steele added.

“I think basically one thing that someone said to me as well was, ‘Liverpool don’t want to go shopping for a No. 9 that doesn’t exist’.”

The need for adaptability would appear to rule out forwards such as Sesko and Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, both strikers who are more traditional in their approach, covering less ground and staying central.

What Arne Slot has said about his demands from a striker

Slot, himself, has explained what he wants in a striker. When asked, in February, about whether he wants his strikers to score more goals as well as be facilitators, Slot explained his demands.

“I will be happy if that player becomes both,” the head coach said.

“‘Facilitator’, nice word, I didn’t know that one yet, and scoring goals himself – that is, again, what we want to achieve in the end.

“But I also saw the penalty (at Bournemouth) from Cody where Lucho (Diaz) played a part without even touching the ball.

“He dragged the centre-back out which led to Cody being in a one-vs-one and he made a deep run and got tripped. In the end, you want attackers and midfielders to score, we’ve spoken about our attacking midfielder as well.

Hugo Ekitike (Frankfurt 11)(Image: dpa/Alamy Live News

“We need to get goals from many positions, including them and including centre-backs that can score from set-pieces also.

“So, that’s what I just said, we are trying to work on the training ground and with the feedback we give them after the game to make [the] team better and better and better and in the end, the No. 9 should be a facilitator, like a winger, but a winger and a No. 9 should also score goals.”

Isak, Ekitike and Julian Alvarez are the three strikers to have been mentioned most in connection with a Liverpool move this summer.

Of that trio, Ekitike had the best creative statistics, creating more chances (1.54) per 90 minutes than Isak and Alvarez, according to FotMob.

It is worth remembering, though, that he was arguably playing in a weaker league than Alvarez and, of course, Isak.

Whether Liverpool will spend big on a striker, having already committed to paying over £100 million for Wirtz, is up for debate.

The club are keen on Isak but he could cost up to £150m, while Alvarez and Ekitike would both command upwards of £60m, the former closer to £100m.

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