Liverpool finally have the chance to correct £55m transfer mistake as Barcelona player put up for sale

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Back in the summer of 2022, Liverpool were in the market for a new forward addition.

The emotional exit of Sadio Mane had left a gaping hole in Jurgen Klopp’s attack. Although Luis Diaz had softened the blow after arriving in January, the feeling was that Liverpool could still do with a couple more.

As usual, a whole host of names were linked, before Liverpool settled on Darwin Nunez. But even after Darwin was signed, there was still room for another to ease the burden on Mohamed Salah.

In the end, that player never arrived. But he should have done. And it should have been Raphinha.

Instead, the Brazil international fulfilled a dream by joining Barcelona from Leeds United and – ending the summer without further additions – Liverpool moved to bring Cody Gakpo in in the winter.

Gakpo has been a top signing for the Reds, but it’s hard to escape the fact that Liverpool’s forward line is a little imbalanced. There’s still no natural understudy to Salah. With Barcelona now having reportedly put Raphinha up for sale though, a chance for redemption has opened up.

Liverpool given Raphinha redemption

Some will disagree entirely with this. At least on paper, Liverpool have as stacked a forward line as any team in world football. They don’t need another player adding to that. But we’d tend to disagree there.

Although Klopp is indeed spoilt for choice with who to pick up top at the moment, the future of Salah is completely unclear.

The hope is that the Egyptian will stay beyond this summer, and some recent noises suggest he may well do that.

But there’s still every chance that the 31-year-old takes Saudi Arabia up on their big-money offer at the end of the season.

Even if Mo doesn’t accept that, he’ll be 32 next summer. Although he doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon, Liverpool need to start thinking about a successor for their Egyptian King.

Leroy Sane is a name that has been put forward a few times, and the 27-year-old looks like an outstanding candidate right now. But a year younger than Sane, we think Raphinha also has the potential to reach the heights that the Bayern Munich man is currently scaling.

Back when it looked like Liverpool might sign the Brazilian in 2022, he was described as a player with ‘rapid pace’ by Stan Collymore [The Mirror]. He’s quick, skilful, direct and – crucially – left-footed.

With Premier League experience as well as now having been grounded at a top, top club, Raphinha could be the full package. If he really is available in January, or the summer, then Liverpool should come back and correct their mistake of letting him slip through the net. It might be the last one they get.