Liverpool could sign Mohamed Kudus or Johan Bakayoko after Anthony Gordon agreed a move to Barcelona.
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The two forwards were linked with Merseyside players in previous transfer windows.
It’s clear the Reds need at least two wingers (and ideally an even more versatile forward), and perhaps interest could be reignited.
ChatGPT recommends Mohammed Kudus and Johan Bakayoko
Out of morbid curiosity, I wanted to know which player LLM would recommend to replace Gordon this summer.
To tell you the truth, most of the proposals were pretty disappointing.
- Yann Diomande (he’s the first choice on the wing, not the Anthony Gordon-type player we want as an additional utility option)
- Bradley Barcola (see above)
- Johan Bakayoko (previously linked, but has no significant history playing centrally in a front three)
- Brian Mbeumo (Um… am I forgetting something, Chat?)
- Mohamed Kudus (Continue…)
- Nico Williams (same as Bakayoko, on a ridiculously long contract)
- Takefusa Kubo (some Experience playing centrally…focus some)
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It’s safe to say there aren’t the most ideal profiles left on the market, but I’m a Kudus fan and was always intrigued by Bakayoko’s potential.
So let’s take a closer look at what both options have to offer Arne Slot.
Who are the likely candidates to replace Anthony Gordon?
It might be a bit harsh to label Johan Bakayoko a ‘failure’ after a difficult season in the Bundesliga.
However, it is rather telling that Yann Diomande, who has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, is preferred on the right wing.
| Yann Diomande statistics | Johan Bakayoko statistics |
| 36 games (2,724 minutes) | 22 games (892 minutes) |
| 13 goals | 3 goals |
| 10 assists | Assist 0 |
| Contribution time per goal: 118.43 minutes | Contribution time per goal: 297.33 minutes |
| 0.26 non-penalty xG (per 90) | 0.24 non-penalty xG (per 90) |
| 1.93 shots per 90 | 2.79 shots per 90 |
| Number of touches inside the opponent’s box 7.09 | 4.89 touches per 90 in the opposition box |
* Statistics of Yann Diomande and Johan Bakayoko in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season (Transfermarkt/Fotmob)
To be completely fair to Bakayoko, he has had to battle some injuries this season. And while there is some encouraging underlying data to suggest that the Belgian could become effective with more regular appearances in the right set-up, there is also more than enough evidence to suggest Liverpool are in a position to favor their Ivorian team-mate as first choice for the winger.
And with just two appearances in the middle, I’m not at all convinced that the 23-year-old is a suitable replacement for the Barcelona-bound Anthony Gordon.
So what about Kudus?
It would be somewhat unfair to evaluate Kudus without fully taking into account the season he spent in a rather ignorant and clueless Tottenham team in 2025/26.
However, despite that crutch, the 25-year-old winger still managed to post some impressive dribbling numbers, even though his output numbers plummeted.
| Mohammed Qudus statistics |
| 26 games (1,921 minutes) |
| 3 goals |
| 6 assists |
| 213.44 minutes |
| 0.11 non-penalty xG (per 90) |
| 1.51 shots per 90 |
| Number of touches inside the opponent’s box: 3.32 |
* Mohamed Kudus stats in the Premier League (2025/26) (Fotmob/Transfermarkt)
Of course, the big thing about Kudus is the fact that he has played 51 senior games in a central role.
That must certainly lend some appeal to the idea of signing players this summer. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Spurs, who signed the 25-year-old last summer, are prepared to make a deal.
However, I would recommend Mohamed Kudus over Johan Bakayoko, depending on the price.
