Liverpool were without top-flight Mohamed Salah this season, but the profile Arne Slott really needed was Sadio Mane, a physical and electric winger who dominated many opponents.
Indeed, Salah has been unusually wasteful and ineffective for the Anfield team this season. But Salah, 33, was isolated and lacking confidence as his attacking system teetered on the brink of failure.
Yann Diomande might be able to solve this problem. He is a two-pronged winger, so ferocious in the danger zone that Redmen TV’s Dan Clave even described the 19-year-old as having “Mane-like decisiveness”.
Liverpool are still closing in on Diomande, but the RB Leipzig winger is not the only forward FSG is eyeing, with new manager Andoni Iraola also needing work on the left flank.
Liverpool in talks to sign big-money winger
Ask any Liverpool fan what the brightest thing about the 2025/26 season is and they’ll likely tell you about the emergence of Rio Ngmoja.
The 17-year-old is enjoying a huge breakthrough and has a feeling he’s destined for greatness. Partnering Iraola with Diomande on the attacking wing could be something of a cheat code for Liverpool next year.
Of course, Ngmoha is still very young and Slott was overly hesitant about unleashing this force of nature, but we can’t expect Ngmoha to start twice a week, every week next season.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are in talks with representatives for Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has also attracted interest from a number of Premier League rivals including Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Williams was the star of the 2024 Euros, with Spain confidently winning the tournament by defeating England in the final. However, his progress has stalled somewhat over the past two years and Liverpool could help bring him back into the spotlight.
With a reported £86m release clause, he doesn’t come cheap, but the 23-year-old is arguably one of the most exciting wingers on the market and could become quite the star on Liverpool’s left flank, perhaps even rivaling Luis Diaz’s influence.
How to compare Nico Williams and Luis Diaz
Williams could be the perfect contrast to Ngmoha on Liverpool’s left wing next season. He is one of the most talented attackers in the game and has been hailed by journalist Zak Lowy for his “world-class” quality.
There’s a sense that Iraora will have to work hard to break out of his shell, but the quality is definitely there.
Over the past two seasons, Williams has struggled to take a leap of faith and break into elite territory. He has the potential to rival anyone in world football like Dias, but he has only six goals and three assists in La Liga this season, compared to 10 goals the year before.
Williams, like Diaz, is mostly conservative in how he uses his natural talent, pace and physicality. This means his explosiveness has increased, leaving defenders guessing when he will decide to jump into a dangerous area.
Of course, Colombian superstar Dias hasn’t always been able to reach the appropriate heights at Liverpool. For example, in the 2023/24 season, he played 37 Premier League games and scored just 8 goals.
Nico Williams vs Luis Diaz (League Data 25/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
Date (if 90) | williams | Diaz |
the goal | 0.32 | 0.55 |
assist | 0.16 | 0.51 |
Number of shots (on target) | 2.45 (0.85) | 3.23 (1.36) |
Pass completion rate | 77.4% | 85.8% |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.81 | 2.39 |
Successful. cross | 0.91 | 0.29 |
Successful. dribble | 3.57 | 2.24 |
collect | 4.80 | 5.07 |
won a duel | 6.35 | 4.85 |
Def. contribution | 1.65 | 1.43 |
There is no doubt that Dias has played at a higher level than Williams this season, but he is also nearly six years the Spaniard’s senior and is someone who has had many ups and downs in the past, especially at Liverpool.
Importantly, Williams packs a similar stylistic punch and could be the perfect signing for a Liverpool team looking to challenge for the biggest titles yet again.
Pundit Wayne Rooney once said: “He reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo when Cristiano was young.” Williams resembles the Manchester United legend in temperament and fearlessness, if not complete style and focus on the field. This could allow him to give Liverpool the edge they lacked over the past year with Dias leaving and not being replaced.
In that position, Liverpool have one of the brightest young talents in the world in Ngmoha, but Williams and Diomande would still be great summer additions and ensure Liverpool have the strength they need to challenge for the biggest titles in years to come.
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Liverpool need to strengthen their midfield this summer.
