Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverp...
Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverp...
Liverpool have needed a striker for a few seasons now and it looks like this summer is their best chance to get one.
The Reds are usually pretty good at finding a player to hold down a position for many years, but a striker is the area that keeps escaping.
They tried, and subsequently failed, with Darwin Nunez, as their club-record signing never hit the heights he was destined for and it appears as though he will depart after three seasons.
This once again leaves a void needing to be filled, and the Reds will be desperate to get it right this time.
Plenty of names have been linked to the Anfield club, with the main four being Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.
Almost all are also targets for Arsenal as well, with Liverpool ready to battle it out with them to steal one from under their noses, and there is one in particular that seems most likely.
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Eintracht Frankfurt at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Ben Jacobs reveals which striker he thinks Liverpool will end up signing
Options are certainly aplenty but the fee almost all will come at is rather astronomical, although Liverpool knew that coming into it.
Arsenal are chasing the same targets too, which does not help the matter, especially as they are the club, arguably, most in need of one, with there being rumours that the Reds may hijack a deal for strikers the Gunners are already in negotiations with.
However, journalist Ben Jacobs via talkSPORT has revealed who he thinks Liverpool will sign and that Arsenal are not worried about the Reds as of yet.
“With Liverpool, Gyokeres has been discussed, as has Benjamin Sesko as well,” Jacobs confirmed.
“I still think Liverpool will look at Hugo Ekitike. Frankfurt’s price is at £100m, it may drop later in the window, and then they’ve got that dream target of Alexander Isak as well.
“So, actually, Liverpool are not as advanced [as Arsenal] in their search, and Arsenal have taken the Sesko and Gyokeres deals relatively far, that’s why they won’t think a hijack is that much of a worry.”
But, as football fans know all too well, things can change very quickly and being the shrewd negotiators Liverpool are, anything is a possibility.
Liverpool should sign Viktor Gyokeres instead of Hugo Ekitike
Although Jacobs believes the Reds will make a move for the Frenchman instead, Gyokeres is the exact striker Liverpool have been crying out for.
They have the players to create already and simply need an out-and-out finisher who is clinical in front of goal, Gyokeres is that man.
His stats show that he very clearly knows where the back of the net is, but his 13 assists also highlight that he can become a facilitator if required.
At 27, he is also about to reach his prime so should be ready to hit the ground running, whereas Ekitike might be considered more as ‘one for the future’.
The Swede would also come at a cheaper price as Sporting CP reportedly want €80m (£68.2m) to let him go, much less than Ekitike’s price tag.