Arne Slott is determined to put things right at Liverpool. Everything has gone wrong this season, with the champions losing five of their last six games and sitting 12th in the Premier League standings.
There is plenty of time for the Dutch manager to turn things around, but immediate improvements are needed if Slot is to fight off the growing noise about the safety of his position in the hot seat.
The Strange Case of Alexander Isaac. Liverpool’s record-breaking striker has been deceptively flattered since joining from Newcastle United for £125m this summer, but getting him up to speed is paramount if the Reds are to be at full strength going forward.
And with Mohamed Salah struggling and the Anfield side completely unbalanced up front, FSG appear to be turning their attention to the transfer market once again.
Liverpool shortlisted as new forward
At 33 years old, Salah is in decline. But then again, Liverpool have been dysfunctional this season and the Egyptian superstar will no doubt reignite his form after a genius spell on Merseyside.
But either way, Liverpool needed to have a succession plan in place and it appears they have done just that by appointing the former Premier League sensation as their right-winger.
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool see Bayern Munich’s Michael Olysse as a “future dream target” to replace Salah, who has extended his stay on Merseyside until the end of the 2026/27 season in April.
However, Olise’s price tag will be considerable, with Die Roten pegging him at a staggering €140m (approximately £122m).
Still, FSG has recently shown a willingness to do business with such fees.
Why Michael Oliseh is the perfect match for Alexander Isak
Olise showed great performance in his debut season in Germany last season, leading Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title and earning high praise for his dynamic attacking style.
The 23-year-old has stepped up another gear this season, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists in 18 games in all competitions, with TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves saying he “could be second to none” after one performance in the Champions League.
It remains to be seen whether Olise will stick at Liverpool, but his incredible physical features and natural playmaking qualities make him a bespoke winger who can complement No. 9 Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
One thing is for sure: he will provide a huge upgrade over the current Salah. Salah’s wastefulness in front of goal is matched by his usual inability to make an impact in other areas.
Michael Oliseh vs Mohamed Salah (League Stats 25/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | Olise | Salah |
Number of points scored | 0.63 | 0.34 |
assist | 0.63 | 0.17 |
shot taken | 4.62 | 2.43 |
The action that creates the shot | 6.82 | 3.27 |
touch (to pen) | 7.55 | 6.21 |
Pass completion rate (%) | 81.6 | 68.1 |
progressive path | 6.40 | 4.19 |
progressive carry | 5.45 | 3.94 |
successful take-up | 2.31 | 0.92 |
Number of balls collected | 4.72 | 2.77 |
Tackle + Interception | 1.36 | 0.34 |
Data via FBref | ||
Isak is one of the best strikers in the world, but he needs service. The Sweden international runs onto the field and finds space between the lines. Olise could help rejuvenate his skillset in this area at Liverpool, having completed an average of more than six progressive passes per Bundesliga game this season.
Olise also doesn’t place much emphasis on the scoring side of the game. That’s not to say he can’t strike spectacularly, as we’ve seen many times in the Premier League, but it would serve as proof that he could be the perfect counterweight to Isak’s striking ability in Liverpool’s attacking system.
Such an athletic and greedy wide forward with a proven track record in the Premier League could be the key to success at Liverpool. Liverpool’s forwards are struggling and there is no doubt they need fresh inspiration to get back to the top of the table.
He’s ‘as good as Bellingham’: Liverpool submit record bid for Fabinho 2.0
Liverpool are preparing to add new elements to their struggling midfield.
