Liverpool have undergone a lot of changes this summer with Luis Diaz among the high-profile names who have exited Anfield this season.
The Colombian entered the final two years of his contract with the Reds, and seeing as though they didn’t want to extend his stay, they sold him to Bayern Munich while he still had plenty of value.
Diaz was one of Arne Slot’s best players last season, and although his departure will have no doubt felt like a kick in the teeth, it felt like the Colombian’s stay in Merseyside had come to its natural end.
Luis Diaz poses for a portrait after he signed a contract with FC Bayern
Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images
However, with just a few days left of the transfer window, a replacement still hasn’t been brought in, with Liverpool now only having four senior attacking options among their ranks.
Danny Murphy believes Hugo Ekitike can fill the gap left by Luis Diaz
Liverpool have spent over £250million on improving their first-team squad this summer.
Players such as Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have been brought in to bolster their ranks, and although they’ve earned six points from their two opening Premier League games, a lot of improvements can still be made.
The team needs time to gel with one another but one player who has taken like a duck to water is Hugo Ekitike.
The striker has arguably been Slot’s star man thus far, with Danny Murphy believing the Frenchman has what it takes to fill the hole left by Diaz.
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“If you add Isak to that firepower, Ekitike can share the load, he can play on the left, he gives them an option where Diaz has left that hole,” he said.
“I think Diaz is a big player to fill, super player.
“In answer to the question of would I want to see Isak in a red shirt, hell yes.”
Liverpool still need to bring in another attacker before deadline day
Although it’s clear that Liverpool are waiting to see if they can sign Alexander Isak this summer, they need to have a backup option ready in case the move doesn’t work out.
Isak has been their dream target since the transfer window first opened at the start of June, and although Newcastle have remained firm on their ‘not-for-sale’ stance, it still feels likely that Liverpool will try their luck again.
The Sweden international would be a stellar addition to Liverpool’s first-team squad, but with the form Ekitike has shown thus far, it feels like a winger is more needed than a striker.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak shouts during a Premier League match against Everton at St James' Park.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
At the moment, it’s anyone’s guess what could happen, but if the Reds don’t sign another attacker before the transfer deadline strikes, they could find themselves in a whole lot of trouble this term.
That is, especially when AFCON comes around and Mohamed Salah could be absent for around six weeks.