Liverpool is primed to spend at least €200 million ($226 million) this summer to improve a side fresh off cruising to the 2024/25 Premier League title.
The Reds have reportedly activated the €35 million ($40 million) release clause for Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, while a deal for his teammate Florian Wirtz could top €150 million ($169 million). Further, Liverpool is thought to be leading the race for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, rumored to cost around £45 million ($61 million).
While the knee-jerk reaction by Richard Hughes and the rest of the transfer hierarchy could be to tell an excess striker, former Manchester United forward Lee Sharpe thinks offloading a title-winning No. 9 "would be harsh."
"I find it difficult to say Liverpool need to offload someone when they’ve just cruised to the Premier League title,” he told Esports Insider.
Sharpe joined Manchester United in 1988 and featured 193 times for the Red Devils, winning three Premier League titles along with a pair of FA Cups and League Cup crowns.
“I’m not even convinced Liverpool are looking at an out-and-out No. 9; they’ve chopped and changed their forward line throughout the season," Sharpe continued.
Darwin Nunez Liverpool
Nunez didn't have his strongest season in front of goal (Image: Getty Images)
"They’ve got Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez who seem to rotate the striker role between them, which keeps the opposition from predicting how they’ll set up. To not have a regular No. 9 might suit Arne Slot for that reason. It would be harsh to look to offload anyone else after the season Liverpool have had.”
Nunez was the subject of a transfer bid from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in January, swiftly rejected by Liverpool, with the side still in the transfer race.
The enigmatic Uruguayan forward didn't do much to help the Reds fetch a fee with a poor season in front of goal. The 25-year-old scored seven times across 17 in all competitions for Liverpool this year.
Jota, now 28, also struggled in front of goal this year. After overperforming his 5.3 Premier League xG last year to the tune of 10 goals, the Portuguese international scored just six in 2024/25 from 7.9 xG.
Diaz often moonlit as a No. 9 in the fall with Jota out and Nunez not in Slot's good graces. He managed a hat trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League but didn't produce much else.