Liverpool have “made contact” with a rival Premier League attacker over a move to Anfield in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool in need of Nunez and Jota upgrade
The Reds are expected to have one of their busiest summers in years, with upgrades needed in various positions, despite their Premier League title win.
In attack, a new centre forward is badly needed, with neither Darwin Nunez nor Diogo Jota representing the solution in that area now. The former simply hasn’t kicked on enough in three seasons, while the latter is an injury-prone player who cannot seem to stay fit for a whole season.
Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike has been linked with a move to Liverpool various times, and could stand out as the most exciting No.9 option this summer, especially considering Newcastle United look highly unlikely to allow Alexander Isak to leave.
Brighton attacker Joao Pedro has also been mentioned as an option for the Merseyside, as has Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, who could potentially be used in a false nine role, even though it isn’t his most common position. Now, a big claim regarding the Reds signing another attacking player has emerged.
According to Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna on X, Liverpool have made contact with Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku over a summer move to Anfield.
“Christopher Nkunku will leave Chelsea in the summer, plan clear as several top clubs, including Liverpool, have already made contact. Understand Newcastle as well as Bayern Munich are among clubs informed on conditions of the deal to sign the french player.”
There would have to be question marks about Liverpool signing the £195,000-a-week Nkunku, considering he hasn’t exactly been a roaring success in a Chelsea shirt since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2023, only making nine starts in the Premier League this season.
Signing the 27-year-old would feel like a gamble by the Reds – one they don’t need to take – even though Thierry Henry has admitted he loves watching him play, and he has been lauded by former Chelsea and England centre-back Gary Cahill, who hailed him as a “very strong” player.
If Richard Hughes and Arne Slot truly feel that Nkunku is the best option to bring in this summer, they need to be trusted, but given his injury record and form at Chelsea, it would be a surprise if that was the case.
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Liverpool’s primary goal this summer remains signing a new centre-forward.
Liverpool would be far wiser to look to sign Ekitike, who is five years his junior and seemingly on an upwards trajectory, following a great season for Frankfurt that has seen him score 15 goals in 30 Bundesliga starts.
