Slot wants to sign £50m hybrid Nunez & Isak at Liverpool

At the beginning of the season, Arne Slot faced several questions about his true tactical integrity and how much of Liverpool’s thunderous start was a product of Jurgen Klopp’heritage.

Certainly, some have argued that the Dutchman is riding on his predecessor’s trail, but such arguments have been reduced to peeling, brittle dead wood as Liverpool head into the new year confidently on top Premier League and Champions League tables.

Klopp’s residual ferocity, his counter-pressing, can be found in this current Liverpool squad. It’s like one of those lenticular images that shift when moving to different perspectives.

Optical illusions on the pitch can give the impression of Klopp’s system, but make no mistake, Slot is very much his own man. He wanted to and shaped the Anfield team to his own design despite the difficulty of the task and the lack of activity during the summer transfer window.

Side note: See the table above; Liverpool is more relaxed in the build-up, less frenetic and energetic. However, they score more and concede less. This is a mark of Sloto’s genius, keeping things calm through the stages while ensuring his side retains the ability to step up to the nth degree when the situation calls for it.

Federico Chiesa was snapped up for an attractive £12.5m but has made just four appearances as he struggles with injuries. WITH Darwin Nunezand the future is a bit unclear to us, FSG could approve the signing of the statement this year – and maybe even this month.

Liverpool are looking for a new striker

According to Sky SportsLiverpool have shortlisted Brentford striker Bryan Mbeum and may sign him this year. While the door is not closed on a January spending spree, resolving Anfield’s contract issues is an urgent matter.

Mbeumo is a prized signing following his prolific performances in the Premier League this term, with reliable reports suggesting Newcastle United are also in the running and ready to pay £50m this monthalthough they are wary of PSR limitations.

Liverpool boasts the best right-back in the world Mohamed Salah but with Chiesa longing for home, the periphery and looking for an outlet, this could be the perfect move to bolster Sloto’s successful first line.

Bryan Mbeum’s season in numbers

Mbeumo has been part of Brentford’s remarkable journey under Thomas Frank, scoring 105 goals over 222 performances.

Arrival from Troyes in the French Ligue 2 in 2019, Mbeumo has achieved the status of a modern legend in west London and, still only 24, will feel his best days are ahead of him.

And rightfully so. Considered one of the Premier League’s most exciting strikers, his goal against Arsenal on New Year’s Day was his 45th since the start of the 2022/23 season. placing him seventh in the division of that time frame, just behind Alexander Isak.

He is always there, chasing goals, but he is not only a scorer. According to FBrefMbeumo actually ranks in the top 9% of position mates in the Premier League this season for shot creation and progressive passing, top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons and top 14% for tackles per 90. He is the complete package.

In fact, such metrics have compared him to players like Isak and Nunez forward in your position in the five best European leagues. The Liverpool striker has his flaws, sure, but he’s still imbued with the kind of electricity and chaos that convinced Liverpool to pay for his services.

And Isaac. Good. Wouldn’t Liverpool want to sign a striker who could replicate some of the Newcastle man’s qualities?

A hybrid of Darwin Nunez and Alexander Isak

Imagine a player who has characteristics characteristic of both Nunez and Isak. Imagine what kind of player you would get. Mbeumo could be that type of striker for Liverpool, one who can switch between the number nine and the flank.

It could be an irresistible recipe for success. After all, Slot has shown through Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz that he is willing to put wide players into central attacking roles with high impact.

For example, Mbeumo has scored 20 goals in the Premier League since the summer of 2023, missing just 14 big chances in that period, according to Sofascore.

Isak, one of the deadliest finishers on the continent, is missed 30 big chances since 2023/24although he has since scored 33 goals. Nunez represents the reverse, scoring just 13 Premier League goals in the time frame under review, without, however, 30 great opportunitiesuncomfortably matching Isak.

It’s grim reading for the Nunez faithful, although they can take solace in the fact that Liverpool’s agent of chaos is a thorny customer, using his athletic style and dynamism to help his team towards the goal.

He belongs to the top 14% of strikers in the top five European leagues over the last year for progressive carries and top 3% for tackles per 90, which is impressive, but we can see Mbeumo implementing a tactical strategy that could negate Nunez’s role, his expertise, while bringing in a brand new top-end complement to the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo.

While Mbeumo wouldn’t give Liverpool Isak’s ball-striking ability, they could emulate it in their own form. This is enough. More than enough. Liverpool may boast the best frontline in the country under Sloto and Mbeum, who he described as a “printing machine” produced by Michael Johnstonit would make it even better. It’s that simple.