Liverpool are reportedly interested in making a move for Bayern Munich attacker Serge Gnabry, having him on their “shortlist” of attacking options.
The Reds may have spent big on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike in the summer, but further attacking reinforcements are needed next year.
Mohamed Salah’s dip in form is a worry, with signs that the Liverpool legend has drifted past his peak, and Cody Gakpo can arguably be improved upon, too.
According to Bild journalist Christian Falk [via Sport Witness], the Premier League champions are eyeing a move for Bayern star Gnabry, but his potential £16.7m-a-year wages could be too much for them to justify:
“Liverpool also have him on their shortlist. But for them too, that’s a very, very large sum of money.”
Gnabry is out of contract at Bayern at the end of this season, allowing Liverpool to sign him on a free transfer, should they consider him a strong option.
A needless gamble for Liverpool?
There is no doubting Gnabry’s pedigree as a top-level footballer in recent years, with Rio Ferdinand once hailing him as “world-class”, saying:
“His stats are phenomenal. He’s sitting in the top level, world class. He’s come to Germany and set the place on fire, he was absolutely stunning tonight. His decision making has been extraordinary. I’ll go as far as to say he’s one of the most improved players in football at the moment. I don’t think anyone’s upwards trajectory is as sharp as his.”
Gnabry is a Champions League winner with Bayern, also winning six Bundesliga titles there, but he is now 30 years of age, which is why signing him would be a risk for Liverpool, with his prime years potentially behind him, like Salah.
Given the huge wages he is on, it would arguably feel like a needless risk when younger wide options are available, so the Reds need to go down that route instead.
Admittedly, if Liverpool did suddenly sign Gnabry on a free, it could be an inspired piece of business for a few years, but Arne Slot and Richard Hughes should look at someone like Bayern teammate Michael Olise as a better choice, among others.