Liverpool have monitored numerous forwards and are likely to move for alternative targets to Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed.
The Merseysiders are set to take on Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash at Anfield following their 1-0 victory against the French champions last Wednesday.
Darwin Nunez came on as a late substitute against PSG in the first leg and registered an assist, but the Uruguayan has routinely been linked with a move away from Anfield and his expected departure has led to speculation that the Reds will reinforce their attack in the summer.
However, Lynch claimed that Liverpool are likely to avoid signing Isak due to his price and injury history, but he did say that the club may be interested in someone like Hugo Ekitike, telling Sports Mole: "I'm pretty certain a forward will be on the shopping list this summer because [Liverpool] are going to get forced into that position by Darwin Nunez leaving - there's no doubt about that.
"I have question marks over Isak. As a starting point - aside from the injury record and how much it would cost - I really do think Newcastle will be able to keep hold of him for at least one more season. I think that will be the case, so I don't think anybody will be buying him.
"I may be proven wrong on that, but that's my firm belief at the moment. I don't think Liverpool will be in and around that at all. If they are to sign a forward, which is what we would expect, then someone like Ekitike would tick a lot of boxes looking at it externally."
Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitike has managed to score 13 goals in the Bundesliga, while Nunez has only managed to find the back of the net five times for Liverpool in the Premier League this term.
Who will Liverpool sign in the summer?
Isak has scored 19 goals in the Premier League this season, but his reported price tag of over £100m would mean that Liverpool will have to break their transfer record to acquire his signature.
Ekitike would certainly be available for a considerably more affordable price, and it should be noted that the attacker was said to be a target of Newcastle's before they signed Isak, with the striker sharing similarities to the Magpies talsiman.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch explained that the Merseysiders rarely attempt to sign established players, instead preferring to look for targets that could develop into stars, saying: "It'd be much more Liverpool to go and get the guy who has stylistic similarities [to Isak], who's a little bit younger and is ready to make that step now. That would make a lot more sense.
"They'll definitely be watching him because they watch every player who is performing well in a top-five European league. They'll be across all these types of players, but it's hard with the Bundesliga to weight the goals. They're very good at this at Liverpool, their recruitment staff.
"But from the outside, you can't necessarily say, 'oh, he's scoring a lot of goals and therefore Liverpool will be looking at him' because it goes much deeper than that in terms of how they look at things."
Liverpool have taken a more cautious approach in recent transfer windows, with the addition of Federico Chiesa representing their only summer signing in the 2024-25 season.
© Imago
Could Liverpool sign Cunha?
Slot has not always utilised a traditional striker in his team, with the Dutchman at times starting Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai together in a front two.
The midfielders have effectively acted as false nines, drawing in opposition defenders to provide the likes of Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah with space to attack in behind.
Luis Diaz has also operated as a false nine and there is an argument that Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha, who is not a traditional number nine, could suit such a role at Liverpool, though Lynch urged caution given it is impossible to know if Slot will continue to use a strikerless system.
Lynch told Sports Mole: "The difficult thing to judge is whether Slot is using these systems and using Diaz up front because that's how he wants his team to play, or if it's a case of needs must. Jota - he's not been able to rely on him this season because he's been injured for a lot of it, then struggled to get his fitness back up, been in and out. Darwin Nunez is Darwin Nunez and therefore quite inconsistent.
"[If Slot] wants that guy who drops deep and is a presser and is primarily there for link-up play, then you're looking at 'we want Roberto Firmino again', and someone like Cunha would absolutely fit that bill, but it's hard to know exactly what he wants.
"He's scored goals at a really consistent level for a side who are low down the league and generally struggling. He's got a £60m release clause - there's a lot to like. I just wonder whether [his temperament] would put Liverpool off. That may have squashed his chances of a move, but if that is the type of player that they want, he would really fit that bill."
Cunha was sent off during his side's FA Cup clash against Bournemouth on March 1 after a heated confrontation with Milos Kerkez, and given he was also suspended for two games in January after clashing with a member of Ipswich Town's security staff, perhaps Liverpool will avoid signing the Brazilian.
Lewis Nolan
