Liverpool striker targets: Latest on Darwin Nunez replacement as Arne Slot looks to strengthen in summer transfer window

Hugo Ekitike would fit Liverpool's criteria of a replacement for Darwin Nunez, but it is not clear whether the Merseysiders would take the gamble on his talent, Reds expert David Lynch has claimed.

The champions have already strengthened considerably this summer, with the club welcoming Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz to the squad ahead of 2025-26.

However, boss Arne Slot is said to also be on the lookout for a new number nine to replace Darwin Nunez, who has struggled to live up to expectations.

The likes of Hugo Ekitike have been linked, but while Lynch spoke of Liverpool's interest, he argued that an official approach is far from certain, telling Sports Mole: "Ekitike feels the most Liverpool-like signing in terms of age, profile, scoring. The way he plays, he would feel like quite a good fit.

"But whether he's going to become anything concrete [is unclear]. One thing I could say definitely is that they have watched him, they're keeping an eye on him - as multiple clubs are - so that's the news. There is some degree of interest but whether that's going to turn into anything, it's very hard to say.

"He's very expensive, still has elements of rawness in his game as well. It's an interesting link, there's definitely interest there, but whether Liverpool will move forward with it or not is quite difficult to say at the moment."

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitike is reported to be available for a price in the region of £85m, a similar fee that Liverpool agreed to pay to Benfica for Nunez in the summer of 2022.

Wirtz false nine

Slot has at times been reluctant to use a traditional striker up front, with winger Luis Diaz having frequently operated centrally as a false nine.

If Liverpool fail to sign a centre-forward this summer, perhaps the Dutch coach could look at internal solutions by utilising some of the players at his disposal as Nunez's replacement.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch suggested that Wirtz could be stationed as an auxiliary nine, saying: "I'm very interested to see what Wirtz's role is because he could be the the centre-forward in a sense - I wonder whether false nine is the area that we see him operating in.

"If they do that, would they necessarily need to sign a centre-forward? It makes me think Nunez is out the door which is expected, [and they then] brought in Wirtz to play in that false nine role. Maybe they could then end up selling Diaz, and that would allow them to bring in a multifunctional forward.

"I'm very interested to see how all that plays out because the two things are affecting each other. If there is any plan whatsoever to play Wirtz in the false nine role, then there's no chance of signing Ekitike."

Wirtz has at times operated up front for Leverkusen, and his ability to link play from central areas could make him a viable alternative to strikers such as Ekitike, who have yet to prove themselves at the highest level.

Anthony Gordon

In order to get the most out of Wirtz in a central role, the Reds would need to ensure they have forwards capable of exploiting the space he creates when dropping deep.

Mohamed Salah is still fast enough to run beyond opposition defences, but he is unlikely to be able to consistently sprint in behind given his age.

Lynch argued that signing a pacey forward such as Anthony Gordon could be beneficial, when he told Sports Mole: "Bringing in another multifunctional forward - just throwing a name out there - like Anthony Gordon, who can play left, right, central, would work quite nicely with Wirtz in a false nine role.

"I wonder whether Liverpool want to go back to what worked before, which was to have that type up front, and Wirtz has profile-wise a lot of similarities [to Roberto Firmino in a false nine role].

"Anything that moves you back towards that system of wingers coming into goal scoring positions, a facilitator in that central role, lock-down midfielders with Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, would work. It would be similar to the Jurgen Klopp team of old."

Liverpool reportedly explored a deal to bring Gordon to Anfield in the summer of 2024, and though a transfer ultimately failed to materialise, the champions are likely to still admire the Englishman.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on the possible replacements for Darwin Nunez

Written by
Lewis Nolan