If Liverpool are to improve their form by the end of the season and meet a number of conditions, Alexander Isak will need to feature in A matches in the final weeks.
The Swedish striker joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a record £125m deal last summer, but so far FSG have failed to deliver. Isak broke his ankle scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in December and was unprepared and ineffective.
While there is uncertainty over Arne Slott’s future in the Anfield dugout, there is also a sense that Liverpool’s front line is well-positioned for future success, but more work is still needed. The Reds’ attacking play has been stagnant throughout the campaign, with no creative connections occurring.
Isak will certainly be playing close to the great form that characterized his time at St James’s Park next season, but he will need to find some of that form before the summer break to put Liverpool back in the ascendancy, secure qualification for next year’s Champions League and enable them to sign top targets.
Liverpool shortlisted for Premier League forward
Football transfer paparazzi are understandably focused on Mohamed Salah, who will end his iconic career at Anfield this summer, but there are also claims that Liverpool should also sign left-winger Kodi Gakpo as an upgrade.
17-year-old Rio Ngmoha has attracted considerable attention throughout the season and is finally starting to earn consistent playing time under Slott.
However, it is important that Liverpool do not put too much stress on the youngster at the start of his career. He has yet to grow into his skin and must continue to challenge for a starting spot, rather than dominating the left flank.
With that in mind, claims that Liverpool could sign Morgan Rodgers might mean something. Caught Offside reports that the Aston Villa star is considering leaving Unai Emery’s project this summer.
Top Premier League sides such as Arsenal and Manchester United are keen to sign him themselves, and with Villa putting a £100m price tag on the Three Lions star, this could be one of the defining stories of the summer.
Why Morgan Rodgers is perfect for Liverpool
Rodgers is only 23 years old and on his way to becoming a superstar. Since the start of last season with Aston Villa, he has scored 24 goals and provided 23 assists, earning him praise from Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp as “one of the best players in the world”.
Given his high transfer fee and reputation as a star man for their Premier League rivals, Liverpool could actually repeat their deal with Isak by bringing Rodgers into their fold.
It’s definitely been a tough start, but as they say, weight class is forever and he’ll be back to world-class form at some point. Rodgers is also developing into a fairly attacking midfielder.
The England international’s speed and directness allow him to move across the front line, and although he is usually used centrally by Emery, he has extensive experience playing wide, preferably on the left.
Aston Villa will be looking to play tough as suitors start sniffing around, but Rodgers hopes the club will grant him his desire to move this summer, especially if he can perform on the European front and help Emery win another Europa League title.
Rodgers – Career statistics by position | ||
|---|---|---|
position | app | Goal + Assist |
left wing | 105 | 28+13 |
attacking midfield | 75 | 20+14 |
right wing | 44 | 9+17 |
center forward | twenty two | 6+4 |
Of course, Isak scored the winning goal when Newcastle beat Liverpool in last year’s Carabao Cup final, so there are similarities there.
Liverpool already have a top two attacking midfielders in Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirths, but their interest in Rodgers is genuine, with indications that he could return to a left-wing role alongside the likes of Isak in the centre.
It remains to be seen whether FSG can pull that off – especially given the need to replace Salah on the right-wing, but they would be foolish to resist exploring a deal if Rodgers is available this summer.
Hailed as an attacking “machine” by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Rodgers has a wealth of experience at Aston Villa and, given Emery’s side, could play a leading role in their bid to conquer Europe before they depart for the World Cup.
Although he is still young, Rodgers is their talisman and is developing into one of the best players in Europe. He will develop at Liverpool.
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