Liverpool have found their balance once again, but not their verve. Against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday, the Reds got the job done, but not without a measure of second-half shakiness.
This is not a team who know how to calmly close out a game, and Arne Slot needs to continue re-threading such skills over the coming weeks and months.
However, balance of such a description requires more than just defensive additions, and Liverpool haven't looked quite right across the frontline this year.
With that in mind, FSG are planning to sign a new wide forward in January.
Liverpool targeting attacking signing
Liverpool opted against directly replacing Luis Diaz this summer. The Colombian joined Bayern Munich for £65.5m in August, and his pace and energy down the left flank have been missed.
Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo has been a player of interest, but Liverpool have not followed up their November enquiries, and he is now closing on a move to Manchester City.
Liverpool may yet move for a dynamic wide forward, though, with FSG reported to have spied a cost-efficient winter bargain.
Spanish sources believe Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi could be on the move this winter, with Liverpool said to have lodged a lowball €20m (equating to £17m) offer for the German international.
Adeyemi
The Yellow Wall are perhaps a bit insulted by this, given last season he was billed at €75m (£65m). Sporting director Richard Hughes has sat down for a chess match, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Liverpool return with an improved offer in the coming weeks.
Why Adeyemi would be perfect for Liverpool
Adeyemi is 23 years old and into his fourth campaign in Germany with Borussia Dortmund. Hailed as an immense "counter-attacking weapon" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the versatile attacker has scored six goals and provided three assists across 22 games in all competitions this season.
He has not yet matured into his prime, but he has already demonstrated an aptitude in front of goal to match his natural flair on the ball, zipping up and down the flank.
In this, he shares some attractive qualities with Diaz, who scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists across all competitions for Liverpool last season, his dynamism utilised by Slot to field him in a makeshift centre-forward role on occasion. This is something Adeyemi has done throughout his career.
Karim Adeyemi - Career Stats by Position
Position
Centre-forward
Left wing
Right wing
Attacking midfield
Data via Transfermarkt
Like Diaz, Adeyemi is a fleet-footed and eletric winger with a shrewd eye for goal. As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, and the data-driven platform have graded Diaz as being one of his most statistically comparable players.
But they are alike in more than just their sharpness in front of goal. As with the old Liverpool star, Adeyemi is conservative in his usage of his athleticism, economical.
luis-diaz-bayern-munich
Given that the left-footed German's attacking skills are best applied out on the right, there's a claim to be made that he might arrive at Anfield not only as the new version of Diaz but as Mohamed Salah's eventual successor too.
Now that he is beginning to establish himself as an "unstoppable" forward on his day, as has been noted by Como scout and analyst Ben Mattinson, Adeyemi may be ready to take the leap over to the Premier League and become the forward that Slot needs to make this next chapter on Merseyside an auspicious one.
AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo during the warm up before the match Related
[Semenyo upgrade: Liverpool looking at signing "one of the best LWs in Europe"](https://www.footballfancast.com/better-than-antoine-semenyo-liverpool-chasing-bradley-barcola/ "Semenyo upgrade: Liverpool looking at signing "one of the best LWs in Europe"")
Liverpool won't feel too disheartened by the latest developments with Antoine Semenyo, if they can secure this statement signing instead.