Liverpool are planning to finalize a deal for the “unpredictable” star

Liverpool continued their perfect start to the 2024/25 season Champions League campaign by beating ten-man Lille 2-1 at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Goals from Mo Salah and Harvey Elliott secured all three points for the Reds, who have now won all seven games in the league stage of the competition.

Arne Slott he has made the perfect start to life at Anfield and his side are also top of the Premier League table and will be hoping to win at least one major piece of silverware this season.

The performance of the Dutch head coach in the 2024/25 season. he is particularly impressive when you consider that he only made one senior signing last summer, which was the arrival of the rarely seen Federico Chiesa.

Slott hasn’t had a chance to bring in his own players to bolster the squad, but could see more activity this year with the January and summer transfer windows available to work on.

In fact, Liverpool are reportedly interested in reuniting the manager with one of his former players at the end of this season, with a summer swoop for a new striker on the cards.

Liverpool want £10m forward

According to the African footLiverpool are one of the clubs considering signing Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa, as they look to increase their options in the upper half of the pitch.

The report does not name any other teams who are interested in the Algerian international, but mentions that the Reds are the ‘closest’ side to the 22-year-old from Dynamo, suggesting they are leading the race to secure his signature.

However, it is said that a change in the January transfer window is unlikely and that any move is more likely to happen in the summer, after the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Africa Foot add that Barry Hunter, Liverpool’s head of recruitment, has already been in contact with the player’s agents to discuss a potential move to Anfield for their client.

The outlet also reveals that the Reds plan to ‘finalise’ a transfer for the left-footed star in the summer for a fee of around €12m (£10m), although they have yet to formally agree a fee with Feyenoord.

It is said that a strong second half of the season for Hadja Moussa could see that figure rise to £10m, meaning Liverpool could throw in more money if his form improves.

The Reds have tried to sign players from Feyenoord in the past and will be hoping this potential move goes as well as their signing of Dirk Kuyt in the summer of 2006.

Dirk Kuyt’s Liverpool career

Liverpool signed the Dutch forward from the Eredivisie side after he enjoyed an incredible 2005/06 campaign at the top of the pitch with his former club.

The versatile striker, who could play on the right or through the middle as a striker, scored 22 goals and 19 assists in 33 league games for Feyenoord, which convinced the Reds to sign him that summer.

He did not replicate those incredible levels of production in the final third during his time in England, but he proved to be a consistent and reliable contributor to the club during his six years on Merseyside.

The Dutch national team has grown 71 goals and 41 assists in 285 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, showing that the striker provided plenty of quality in the upper half of the pitch from the wing or central position.

Kuyt, who scored in the League Cup final against Cardiff in 2012, was a successful signing from the Eredivisie and proved a solid option for the club for more than half a decade.

Slott could now find Liverpool’s next version of the Dutch striker by signing Hadje Moussa from Feyenoord in the summer transfer window, whether that be for £10m or a bigger fee if his form improves.

Why Anis Hadj Moussa could be Dirk Kuyt

The 22-year-old talent could be the second Feyenoord winger to come to Liverpool and find success, as the Dutchman has, as he has shown plenty of promise with his performances for the club this season.

Hadj Moussa was particularly impressive in the Champions League for the Dutch team, with return three goals and one ‘big chance’ created in five appearances, including two starts.

Algerian healer, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit described as an “unpredictable player”ranks in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Champions League this season for non-penalty goals per 90 (1.06) and top 12% for progressive transfers per 90 (6.00).

These statistics show that he has been able to step up to compete with the best teams in Europe, showing his quality as both a goalscorer and a player who can progress the game by carrying the ball up the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Hadj Moussa has also caught the eye in the Eredivisie, despite limited starts, with six goals and ‘big chances’ created in seven starts.

It means the £10m-rated star has scored six goals and created four ‘big chances’ in nine starts across the Eredivisie and Champions League combined, which speaks to his ability to make a big impact at the top of the pitch.

The Algerian international still needs to find more consistency in his game to become a regular starter, given that Feyenoord did not trust him to start week-to-week, but he could arrive at Anfield as a first-team player and develop into a key player in the future.

Hadj Moussa is a striker who has the potential to be Kuyt’s figurehead for Slot, who worked with him at Feyenoord, arriving from Holland to provide a reliable but unspectacular threat from out wide.