Confirmed: Liverpool are set for an attacking OVERHAUL this summer
Liverpool finished the 2024/25 season with the best attack in the Premier League, scoring 86 goals across the 38 games, but Arne Slot knew there were clear areas for improvement.
Not least the striker role given the underwhelming campaigns delivered by Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, but also the role of Dominik Szoboszlai and getting more goal contributions from our No.10.
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Across the season, the Hungarian had six goals and six assists, but given his tally sat just two above that of Alexis Mac Allister who was a more defined No. 8 last season, his efforts were below-par.
Florian Wirtz's arrival is the surest sign yet that Liverpool are looking to be more proactive, and to add more creativity to their game than just that of Mohamed Salah, who had 18 assists.
But an even greater sign that Arne Slot is wanting more attacking intent has been revealed today.
Liverpool were eying Cherki AND Wirtz this summer
The approach for Wirtz makes sense. He's a absolute demon in midfield, just like Szoboszlai is, but his attacking output is far superior. The 22-year-old had 16 goals and 14 assists last season.
Before the German was settled on, Rayan Cherki of Lyon was also considered, given his remarkably cheap price tag and the fact he had 32 goal contributions in his last campaign as a 21-year-old.
In the end, Liverpool pushed on with Wirtz - a move that is nearing it's completion - and after being ousted by the Reds, Manchester City instead moved their attention to Cherki.
However, it was then announced by The Athletic that Liverpool had a meeting with Cherki's representatives, that was seemingly a formality to let them know that the club's interest in him was not something they were going to act on because Wirtz had become the higher priority.
The Frenchman is now having a medical to confirm his move to Man City and both fanbases are happy with their club's choices. There's no drama whatsoever, both will be Premier League players.
But an update from French journalist Matt Spiro has since left our heads in a spin.
In a post on X, he said: "Rayan Cherki spoke to both Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola before choosing to join City over Liverpool... Liverpool wanted Cherki as well as Wirtz."
While it is entirely plausible that the Reds could've afforded both, no one anticipated that two No. 10s were on the shopping list. Improve the attack is one thing, but both players signifies an overhaul.
Szoboszlai would almost definitely have needed to become a No. 8 and we might have seen Wirtz play off the left-hand side in order to facilitate Cherki, or the pair would've battled it out.
Nonetheless, the question now remains as to whether Liverpool are still looking for another No. 10 to replace Cherki or if Wirtz alone is actually a sufficient, but all-out-attack seems to be on the agenda.
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Furthermore, with the remainder of June, all of July and all of August still to spend looking at transfer targets before the new season starts, we could still see a wave of different options recruited.
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