Surprise TWIST! Liverpool given boost in pursuit of prolific striker

Despite all the incredible recruitment business that Liverpool have already completed, there is still one transfer that remains high on the club's shopping - a prolific striker to replace Darwin Nunez.

The options are increasingly limited, as Europe's top clubs have been agreeing deals with targets for weeks now - a new talisman is seemingly on everyone's minds. But one option might still be available.

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Alexander Isak at Newcastle and Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid are the ideal players that Liverpool are desperate for, but it seems as though they will be off limits this season. They are invaluable.

Nonetheless, the next best offering might still be available and if the opportunity comes up for him to move to Merseyside, then Richard Hughes and the recruitment team shouldn't think twice about it.

Gyokeres might still be available

All the reports are currently claiming that Viktor Gyokeres is on the verge of a move to Arsenal and the reaction amongst Gunners fans and rival fans has been perplexing to say the least.

Questions such as what percentage of his goals were penalties, how many were outside the box, does he need space to run into, is he ineffective against a deep-block, and does success in the Portuguese league actually matter, have all been asked. So what do we make of the 27-year-old?

Well, in spite of what people think of his attacking returns and what they mean, the facts are that he has scored 87 goals in his last 95 appearances, which is the textbook definition of a prolific striker.

Furthermore, he has 25 assists in that time, and he's even missed 49 big chances across the two years, so he's still not quite the finished product, but the numbers are phenomenal if we're honest.

He's entering the prime of his career and he's available for £60m plus £8m in add-ons. Anyone who signs him will have got a deal that is showing all the signs of being a bargain, if his form translates.

But as mentioned, it appears as though Arsenal are going to secure his services, so why does all of this matter? Well, reports in Portugal are suggesting that the deal could potentially collapse.

According to A BOLA, sources at Arsenal are reporting a complication in negotiations.

Their latest report said: "The Gunners left Lisbon on Monday morning, after an intense weekend of negotiations, still admitting some availability to climb the parade, but today, the Londonders are considering taking a definitive step... back.

"[A] source very well placed at Arsenal and deeply knowledgeable about the negotiations confesses to A BOLA that at this time, the collapse of the business is imminent... The greens and whites want 80 million euros, achievable, but not through the formula that [Andrea] Berta presented: 65 million euros fixed plus 15 for objectives, even if 5 million were easy to achieve. The lions want another 5 million in the fixed figure, with 10 in variables. Andy they won't go down a cent from the 70 plus 10."

As such, it appears as though financial problems are causing an issue and Sporting's desire to get the terms they want might result in a breakdown in negotiations if Arsenal aren't careful about it.

So you might think, 'what does this have to do with Liverpool?'. Well, as mentioned earlier, Gyokeres is about as reliable a goalscorer out there, and not every player from the Portuguese league has struggled with life in the Premier League - Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United is a clear example.

Arsenal's radio silence in negotiations for Gyokeres might be because the focus has turned to Noni Madueke at Chelsea - a £50m rejected bid was sent across London yesterday, per Fabrizio Romano.

But if there is a genuine possibility that the move collapses, then Liverpool should be setting their stall out. £68m is around £20m less than Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike are available for.

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A striker is a necessary purchase and there aren't many better opportunities out there. Take this one.

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