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5 strikers Liverpool could sign after Florian Wirtz including 54-goal forward and free transfer

Liverpool is pressing forward with a move for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez is seemingly high on the agenda too, but Arne Slot and Richard Hughes might look for further reinforcements after that.

With question marks hanging over Darwin Nunez, there have been calls for Liverpool to bring in another striker. Alexander Isak and Julian Alvarez would be dream options, though neither looks particularly likely.

Newcastle is insistent that Isak will not be leaving, while Atletico Madrid spent around $110 million (£82 million) on Alvarez last summer and doesn't want to lose the Argentine. But if not that pair, who could realistically be available on the market to bring in? Liverpool.com has taken a look at some options.

Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Valued at $113 million (£84 million), Hugo Ekitike is very talented but still very raw at this point. He scored 15 times in the Bundesliga last season and has been linked with Chelsea as well as Liverpool.

For either to be interested, though, the price would have to come down. Ekitike could become a good option for both, but only at a much more reasonable valuation.

Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig)

Similarly not the finished product, RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko would be available for a smaller fee. Arsenal, according to the Evening Standard, is in talks over a move for the Slovenian, who scored 13 league goals last term.

For a fee of around $94 million (£70 million), just like Ekitike, he would cost quite a lot for someone with plenty of developing still to do. Liverpool could probably do with a surer thing.

Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP)

Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 games last season, and you can't really argue with those numbers. However, the Portuguese league isn't as strong as the Premier League, and he is also 27.

Six goals in eight Champions League games is promising but Liverpool tends to go for younger players with more scope to improve. A move somewhere could be on the cards this summer, with Manchester United also said to be interested.

Jonathan David (leaving Lille as a free agent)

Available as a free agent, there should be no shortage of suitors for Jonathan David. The Canadian scored 25 goals for Lille last season, including getting seven in 10 in Europe.

Given there is no transfer fee, even if he was only signed to flip for a profit in the next couple of years, you would think there should be a few clubs in for David. Napoli, Juventus and Newcastle are among those who have been linked.

Joao Pedro (Brighton)

More of a false nine than a focal point, Joao Pedro is very talented. There must be a reason, though, that the 23-year-old will be allowed to leave Brighton this summer after starting just 23 league games last season.

Ultimately, if Liverpool completes its move for Wirtz, then it might as well play him as a false nine rather than bring in another one. Given the lack of an obvious name to target as a number nine, that might just be the best option regardless.

Slot could deploy Wirtz as a number 10, but moving him into the forward line would mean having both the German and Dominik Szoboszlai in the same team. With wingers (and attacking full-backs) flying forward on either side, that would be an exciting plan.

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