Liverpool will buy a striker this summer in an attempt to replace the potentially outgoing Sadio Mane.
That’s according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. In a column for Anfield Watch, Romano claims Liverpool will look to get a deal done ‘as soon as possible.’
Mane has played most of his Liverpool career as a left-winger. However, the journalist claims that due to The Reds’ happiness with Luis Diaz in the position, they won’t look at another winger.
Instead, Mane has been excelling through the middle of late. And it’s at centre-forward where Liverpool will look to recruit in anticipation of his exit.
Romano claims that discussions are already underway regarding targets and it will soon be ‘time for decisions.’
Liverpool look to the market
You’d hope that news of Mane’s desire to leave Anfield at the end of the season wasn’t news to Jurgen Klopp.
With time running down on Mane’s contract, discussions about future intentions will hopefully have been clear.
That will have given Liverpool time to asses their options ahead of the window. The Reds usually recruit impeccably and hopefully they’ve now had a chance to identify who will step into their number 10’s shoes.
It isn’t as straightforward as going out and buying a centre-forward though. Klopp and the recruitment team will have to think how they want the team to play moving forward.
Roberto Firmino has a unique profile but he is seemingly being phased out. Meanwhile Mane offers something slightly different to the Brazilian whilst still being effective. What type of profile Klopp recruits will be a massive clue to how he views his attack functioning in the years ahead.
Whichever way you look at it, Darwin Nunez would look to be the outstanding candidate, but he won’t come cheap.
There are one or two older heads around, such as Robert Lewandowski, who could make for a sensational stop-gap.
That isn’t usually the way Liverpool do business. But if they feel there isn’t the right candidate out there right now, the Pole would be a superb choice to bring in to buy some time in the market.