Liverpool have been told last summer’s raft of new signings will now be eager to step up following the departure of Mohamed Salah
Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak of Liverpool(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Liverpool have been told the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak will benefit from being “mentally” freed following the departure of Mohamed Salah – and Yan Diomande would be an ideal signing this summer.
Salah will leave Anfield this summer on a free transfer having called time on his nine-year stay at the club after a disappointing campaign.
The Egyptian had been publicly critical of Liverpool’s style of play and head coach Arne Slot, who was subsequently sacked on Saturday after a failure to challenge for major honours despite £450million being splashed out on new arrivals last summer.
Chief among those were British record £125m transfer Isak and £116m man Wirtz, both of whom had struggles with injuries and adaptation periods respectively.
OPINION
But former Southampton striker Alan Shearer, now a media pundit, expects the duo to benefit from Liverpool now needing more talismanic figures following Salah’s exit.
“It is a big transfer window for Liverpool on the back of a really, really frustrating season after winning the league,” he said.
“Their recruitment last summer hasn’t worked yet. Now, (Milos) Kerkez may get better, (Jeremie) Frimpong may get better, Wirtz may get better and Isak may get better and I think, because of Mo Salah leaving, mentally it will free up those guys.
“So I do expect them to get better. But with (Andy) Robertson leaving, and maybe (Ibrahima) Konate, with Salah, they need another huge summer.
“And they can’t have a summer where they’re then waiting 12 or 18 months for players to settle in. The signings need to hit the ground running and do well from the off.”
Liverpool have been linked with a number of players including 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Diomande, who will represent Ivory Coast in the forthcoming World Cup.
And speaking to Betfair, Shearer added: “Liverpool need a host of players in there forward line because with Salah gone, you are left thinking who have they got, they’ve got Isak, they’ve got Wirtz, they’ve got (Hugo) Ekitike but he’s going to be out, and you’ve got (Cody) Gakpo, and (Rio) Ngumoha.
“There’s no doubt they’ll need another striker in there, and a forward that’s ready to go, and ready to come in and score 15 goals.
“They are linked with Yan Diomande and he’s a really talented player. He would add a lot to Liverpool, but what the fee would be, I’m not quite sure.
“It would obviously be a lot of money, and I guess if they do buy him, then they’ve watched him several times, so, I think it would be a good buy for them.”
