Liverpool preparing to make big move to sign ‘one of PL’s best players’

Liverpool have to watch from the stands as their rivals chase silver on multiple fronts, and while they may not win silver every season, there is no doubt that the Reds have fallen by the wayside in Arne Slott’s second season as manager.

The Premier League champions are far from good enough and have a number of issues to resolve in the summer transfer window, but the noise will likely center around Mohamed Salah.

Salah, 33, will leave Liverpool at the end of this season, bringing to an end one of the most iconic careers in English football history. An alarming drop in form and public fallout with Slott midway through the season made this a disappointing end to an incredible journey, but that often happens.

With Salah out, it won’t be easy to replace him, but it could be argued that the slot front left flank is likewise in dire need of reinforcements this summer.

Liverpool targeting left winger

There is no doubt that Liverpool have been plagued by injuries this season, but they haven’t helped and despite everyone being fit, the attacking line-up is struggling to keep up.

It has been suggested that Liverpool will make several winger signings this summer. As well as needing a replacement for Salah, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes needs to find an upgrade for Codi Gakpo. Gakpo’s lack of form throughout the season led analyst Raj Chohan to call him a “European League-level player.”

Gakpo remains physical and dynamic, and with Hugo Ekitike’s long-term injury and Alexander Isak’s continued setbacks, he will not be sold this summer.

Still, Liverpool could add depth to their attack and, according to TEAMtalk, they are poised to do so by signing Iliman Ndiaye to match Manchester United.

Ndiaye, 26, is at the heart of Everton’s attack and a move to Liverpool would be controversial, but not out of the realm of possibility to say the least, but is likely to cost the Reds around £75m.

Why Ndiaye is a steal upgrade for Liverpool

Ndiaye’s pace and ability in the final third are two things Liverpool have been missing in the side this season. Rio Ngmoha’s arrival has shed light on what was missing in the team in the slot, but despite his exciting potential, the 17-year-old is still not a finished product and his game time must continue to be managed.

He is seen as something of a maverick, a flashy winger, with substance in his attacking efforts, getting past opponents and getting into perfect spaces. There he attacks accurately and is certainly more accurate and effective than something like Gakpo.

With the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich for £65.5m last summer, Liverpool lost a huge part of their dynamism and unpredictability down the left. Ndiaye will give it back to the team in the slot, and then some.

Described by constant vocalist Jamie O’Hara as “one of the best players in the Premier League”, Ndiaye could be a welcome tonic against the stylistic regression seen in the slot system this season. For that matter, why not strip them of Everton’s talisman?

Gakupo won’t be on sale this summer, and that’s understandable. Liverpool probably don’t have enough depth up front to let go of the Dutch forward. He is a versatile talent, scoring 18 goals in all competitions in 2024/25 as the Reds push towards the Premier League title.

But in Ndiaye, Slot could strike gold for a different kind of attacker who could make a big difference in their return to the top of English and European football next year.