Liverpool make £87m winger their top target

If Liverpool are in a dogfight for Champions League qualification, they are the Chihuahuas of Rottweilers.

That’s how I feel right now. Arne Slott’s side lost 2-1 to bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night, leaving the Reds pinned down as they started to build momentum, leaving them completely disappointed.

It’s clear that Slots needs to fix this mess. It would be a tragedy to miss out on a spot among Europe’s elite. It remains to be seen whether the Reds have the belief to do so, but they do have that quality, which makes this endless battle all the more frustrating.

However, the team at Anfield is certainly not well-balanced, with Kodi Gakpo and Mohamed Salah deceptively flattering on either flank.

This is a problem that needs to be fixed by summer.

Liverpool preparing to sign new winger

Salah, 33, has been in poor form this season and has emerged with the odd goal and steady assists, but his position on the right wing is definitely a liability at the moment.

Even worse is Gakpo’s appearance. The Dutchman, 26, is one of Slott’s most trusted lieutenants. He had tremendous power last season, but this year he was disliked by his opponents and fell down in rank.

There is no doubt that Rio Ngmoha is a special talent, but at just 17 years old he is still young and not ready for a weekly starting role. With this in mind, Liverpool need to step up.

According to Sky Germany, Liverpool have (for now) given up on interest in Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who will not leave the Allianz Arena under any circumstances this summer.

Instead, the Reds moved to sign RB Leipzig star Yann Diomande, whose performances this season have caught the eye of a number of suitors.

Diomande, 19, is emerging as a superstar and is a two-legged direct winger who prefers playing on the right flank. He could be the perfect upgrade to Salah in this regard, but would cost FSG as much as £87m.

Why Diomande is an upgrade to Salah

That means Salah is getting older and opponents can easily negate his ability in front of goal. Diomand is on the other end of the spectrum, young, flashy, and fierce.

The Ivorian international, who joined the Germans from Leganes last summer, has scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions, making him one of the Bundesliga’s standout players.

Hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Bence Boksak, Diomande has the adaptability to match his ability and is playing at a consistent level that suggests he will succeed in the Premier League.

When you consider Salah’s situation compared to Ivorians, the difference is night and day. Not only has the Liverpool legend’s ability declined, but his physical and athletic stats have also declined.

A lack of energy and sharpness in the wings played a major role in Liverpool’s decline.

It’s not just Salah’s typical ability that Liverpool are missing, but also his energy and presence. These don’t exist and the slot system suffers because of it.

Ngakpo’s own struggles have only made matters worse, but Slott has praised Ngmoha’s physical development in recent weeks and his minutes will not be reduced beyond the summer, even if Merseyside maintain faith in their under-supervised head coach.

Gakpo has only scored one goal in the Premier League over the past four months. We had a terrible change of direction in the last game against West Ham United.

We must not repeat the drama of the current campaign. Liverpool cannot afford to slump below the standards that manager Jurgen Klopp has so skillfully set over the years. Liverpool need a new winger and Diomande could be their best option.

If Liverpool were to sign Diomande, Gakpo would undoubtedly pale in comparison. Liverpool will then need to sign another winger, but that’s another story.