Liverpool’s most expensive striker is now Darwin Nunez but who came before him? We have a look at the last five players to take that title.
Liverpool have paid an initial £64m to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica, per the Athletic. Now, that fee could rise all the way to £85m if add-ons trigger but for now, it’s the former figure.
Nunez isn’t a record signing yet, then, but he is now Liverpool’s most expensive striker in their history. That comes with a lot of pressure so we thought we’d look back on the previous names to hold that title.
Liverpool’s most expensive striker
Diogo Jota – £41m (BBC)
Liverpool paid an initial £41m to sign Diogo Jota in 2020 and things have been a real success thus far. In fact, the Portuguese forward has exceeded all expectations.
Jota has 24 Premier League goals for Liverpool already, with 15 coming last season. That figure will end up looking like a bargain.
Mohamed Salah – £36.9m (Guardian)
There’s actually a little bit of debate over Mo Salah’s actual cost. Some outlets believe he cost £34m, which wouldn’t quite put him on this list. The Guardian feel it was a transfer record at the time, though, and we’ll take their word for it.
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Whatever he cost, Salah has more than paid it back. He’s comfortably one of the world’s best players and in the discussion for the best goalscorer Liverpool have ever seen. And that’s some discussion.
Andy Carroll – £35m (BBC)
Liverpool responded to Fernando Torres joining Chelsea by signing Andy Carroll back in 2011. It was a transfer that brought a lot of promise as Carroll appeared to have a sensational skillset.
He just couldn’t put it together at Anfield, though, and injuries left him with little chance of ever justifying his fee. The fact he faced comparisons to Luis Suarez, who arrived on the same day, didn’t help.
Still, we’ll always have that FA Cup semi-final against Everton…
Fernando Torres – £26.5m (Guardian)
One of the best no.9s Liverpool have ever had – Torres was a striker who could do it all. He’d win headers, hit them from distance, dribble past players, hold it up, and had blistering pace in behind. What a player.
Injuries stopped the Spaniard from fulfilling his potential, which is quite the compliment as he went on to be the world’s best striker for a period. Just a fantastic signing.
Djibril Cissé – £14m (Sky Sports)
Djibril Cissé arrived with lots of hype after his performances in France with Auxerre. He faced a strange situation from the get-go, however, after agreeing to join Gérard Houllier’s Reds but seeing the Frenchman replaced with Rafa Benitez before his arrival.
Cissé then had to step up and replace Michael Owen after he forced his way to Real Madrid. And then, to top it off, the striker broke his leg just a couple of months into his first season.
He returned to score in the penalty shoot-out against AC Milan in Istanbul but Cissé just couldn’t find his rhythm at Liverpool. It’s a shame as he was always a wonderfully talented player.