The last week on Merseyside has witnessed Liverpool outcast Harry Wilson finally make the permanent move away from Anfield as the Welshman joined Championship outfit Fulham.
Moreover, a recently marginalised figure in Jurgen Klopp’s first-team camp Xherdan Shaqiri has made his desire known that he wants to call it quits at Anfield amid a strong interest shown in the Swiss international winger from Lazio.
The Serie A heavyweights have been credited with a strong interest in making a move for Shaqiri who has seen very limited first-team action in recent campaigns for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Shaqiri’s exit from Anfield, which is heavily backed in what remains of the summer transfer window, could leave Klopp with a major void to fill in before the 2021-2022 campaign gets underway for the Merseysiders.
Klopp’s forward names, the star-studded trio of Firmino, Mane and Salah, along with last summer’s recruit from Wolves in Diogo Jota, were not all at their very best across the previous campaign with Firmino a mere shadow of his former self in the final third of the pitch.
Mane had his hits and misses over the course of the season but the Senegalese too lacked his usual cutting edge in front of the goal leaving Salah and the new boy Jota to find the back of the net on most of the occassions.
Speculation has been rife since the summer transfer window opened that despite Jurgen Klopp’s eagerness to bring in a new midfield player after his long-serving anchor in the centre of the park Gini Wijnaldum, the Liverpool boss has also been engaged in the hunt for reinforcements to bolster his options up top the pitch.
Long-term targets in Adama Traore and Ismaila Sarr have once again been linked with moves to Anfield as Klopp eyes cut-price deals for the pacy duo who could provide some much-needed cover for Mane and Salah in the wide positions.
There is no doubt that Liverpool’s bench strength in the attacking department could do with some fresh blood, especially as the cult Anfield figure Divock Origi fails to make the most of the first-team action coming his way and looks set for another season on Merseyside with little interest from elsewhere in courting his services.
Also Read – Liverpool could retain Divock Origi beyond this summer due to upcoming AFCON commitments
Jota’s arrival in the last summer window has given Klopp a fantastic option to draft in the striking role whenever Firmino endured a patchy run of form in front of the goal and with Mane displaying some worrying signs across the previous campaign, the former Saints star winger could do with some competition in his role.
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) July 27, 2021
The long-term future of club talisman Mohammad Salah remains a source of concern for Klopp with the Egypt international yet to pen a new improved deal at Anfield but the player is certain to stay put beyond this summer in spite of Real Madrid hoping to revive an interest in signing the 29-year-old.
Firmino, Mane and Salah are all nearing the 30-year mark and such a turn of events call for Klopp to open his chequebook and bring in a young quality forward to shore up his attacking options ahead of the upcoming season where the Liverpool fanbase will be expecting of their side to reclaim the Premier League crown.
