Liverpool could sign £19m star in ‘next few days’

Liverpool are in the driver’s seat for Premier League title, six points ahead of the second-placed sides Arsenal and Nottingham Forest while giving the game in hand.

After Darwin Nunez came up trumps in the dying embers of Gtech on Saturday, Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted that Liverpool are currently “the best team in the world” and “a level above” their nearest Premier League rivals.

It’s true that the Bees missed a few promising chances in a tight game, but Liverpool’s 37 shots told the tale of the tape, justifying last-gasp goals after 90 minutes of debauchery.

It was an off day for the Premier League’s top lines, but Nunez proved Liverpool have the strength in depth to win the title, even if the window buzz suggests the Reds should invest this winter.

Arne Slott he was predictably coy when quizzed on transfer and contract matters, but FSG have some targets on their shortlist, and there is one who could join this month.

Liverpool’s plans for January transfers

Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki has reached an agreement with his club regarding a possible sale this month. The Ligue 1 side are plagued by financial problems and would ease their burden by cashing in on the 21-year-old.

Fabrizio Romano broke the news, confirming that Cherki could be available this month for a bargain €22.5m (approx £19m) fee.

While the transfer guru does not explicitly mention Liverpool as suitors, Spanish reports have confirmed that the Anfield side are preparing for their move, following their own recent vein of attractive opportunities – the signings of Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa, for example.

The report states that the Reds are ‘willing’ to meet his asking price and are now the ‘leading candidates’ to sign the Frenchman after intensifying their efforts to sign him this month.

As such, it is suggested that if ‘all goes to plan, Cherki could be wearing a Liverpool shirt in the next few days.’

What would Rayan Cherki bring to Liverpool

Some might consider Cherki’s profile to be of little importance to Liverpool given the perceived lack of depth at centre-back and Andy Robertson’s continued decline.

But it’s a talent – at a smart price – that shouldn’t be missed. This season, Cherki achieved prolific success in all competitions, scored five goals and eight assists over 22 appearances and serves as the creative talisman of his team.

Described as “one of the most skilled players in the world”. expert Frank LebouefCherki would certainly bring some flair to Liverpool’s front line blessed with dynamism and depth.

Cherki’s playmaking prowess and ability to mix things up in a variety of positions make a strong case for his prospects of excelling on England’s shores, providing relief in a number of areas for Slott’s side.

While Liverpool already have an elite architect on the rise in the name of Harvey Elliott, Cherki could be the perfect attacking midfielder to complete the set piece, with dribbling skills that set him apart from his peers.

According to FBrefCherki ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues in the past year for shot creation actions, top 4% for pass attempts, top 1% for progressive passes and top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

His big personality on the pitch and tenacity to get things going on the ball could serve to rekindle Nunez in the coming months, with the Uruguayan international set to once again open the door to an important role as the slot machines progress.

Although we’re extrapolating from a much narrower data set, it’s interesting to note that Nunez’s problems this season aren’t the result of wastefulness, compared to the past two seasons, but rather, diminished performance. As if this is a by-product of Sloto’s distrust of Liverpool’s club record striker.

Nunez is certainly a player who works on frenetic energy, on chaos. His tenacity and willingness to ruffle feathers with innate predatory moves is something that cannot be easily replaced. Diogo Jota, in this sense, is his inverse, completely cold and calculated refinement.

Alongside Cherki, Nunez could take center stage as a key man in one of the Premier League’s most unpredictable strike forces, bringing dynamism and destructive energy to Sloto’s squad.

Slot will always win control, of course, but when the rawness of such a striker is combined with the Dutch coach’s sharp tactics, Liverpool could unlock new levels in their forward line, with Nunez rushing forward to latch on to Cherki’s surgical passes – hopefully with fine feeling for hitting the ball.

Nunez has shown he can thrive when put in reactionary, high-octane situations. So in Cherki a player who journalist Dean Jones praised for his “outrageous” skills, he could find the perfect match.