Newcastle comes after a blockbuster movement for Liverpool -target white Hugo Ekitike, who could force the Reds to become a little creative with their options at the front
Federico Chiesa can stand in line for a major positional change if Liverpool did not let a striker land this summer. The 27-year-old Italian, mainly a wing player, is considered by Arne Slot for the new season as a central option for emergency situations.
Liverpool has already spent more than £ 200 million in this transfer window, so that high -profile signing sessions such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mhamardashvili have been brought in. However, their company may not be ready, with a new center Vooruit now their top priority.
Hugo Ekitike is high on the club's wish list, but Newcastle is currently leading the race for his signature after opening conversations with Eintracht Frankfurt about a club record £ 65 million deal for the French striker. Despite speculation, the pursuit of the magpies of Ekitike is not supposed to be linked to plans to sell Alexander Isak – the ideal choice of Liverpool to spear their attack.
With Darwin Nunez he would expect the club to leave the club after he only made eight Premier League Start, Liverpool can be forced to improvise, especially if they cannot close a deal with the tone to bring Isak to Anfield.
Benjamin Sesko and Jean-Philippe Mateta are linked, but there is a growing possibility that the Reds will enter the season without a new center-forward under their number. As has been the case for MerseSide under the steward of FSG, the club will not buy a center Vooruit, simply because of this summer. Instead, they are open to the use of Chiesa – or possibly even £ 116 million signing Wirtz – as improvised solutions in the front.
Chiesa has experience playing as a false nine for both Juventus and the Italian national team, albeit with mixed success. His combination of technical skills, movement and finishing capacity makes him a credible solution for the short term. He has shown that he can also score goals for Liverpool, although he has not played enough in the vicinity.
Wirtz is a natural no. 10 and that is where Liverpool looks at the Germany star in the long term. But he has a sharp eye for the goal – 34 times scoring during his last two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen – is tactically intelligent and there are suggestions that he could be formed to be a center -forward to Roberto Firmino.
It is not his preference, nor is it that of head -boss Arne Slot – who made his tactical vision clear to Wirtz in securing his signature. So although it may be used further forward when needed, the plan to use it deeper remains.
For the time being, Chiesa is seen as the more likely stop gap. But after he had only started four games in all competitions last season, the former Fiorentina star is probably open to a positional change when looking for more playing time.
As far as Wirtz is concerned, his wonderful quality ensures that he will be a central figure in any form the evolving attack by Liverpool.