Alexander Isak to Liverpool ‘has just edged a few steps closer’, Darwin Nunez to leave
Liverpool’s Champions League exit may have exposed an ongoing issue the club has neglected – but but that will now be about to change.
As the Premier League’s top scorers this season with 69 goals, Liverpool’s need for a new striker might not be immediately obvious. However, this became glaringly clear after their defeat in their 1-0 defeat to Paris-Saint-Germain.
Salah, central starter Diogo Jota, left-winger Luis Diaz and substitute pair Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo all fluffed their lines as they failed to make the most of the mostly excellent work done by their midfield and defensive sidekicks.
Salah was visibly distraught after the loss to PSG at full-time, but his tearful reaction after the penalty shootout loss only raised further questions about his future.
Although Salah has been sensational for the side this season, his emotional reaction cast a shadow on his future as he has just a few months left on his current deal.
With growing speculation surrounding Darwin Nunez’s potential move away, coupled with his poor performances, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Liverpool will need to invest heavily in a new striker this summer, a profile they’ve lacked all season.
Liverpool’s Champions League exit highlights pressing need for Alexander Isak
Liverpool’s painful exit from the Champions League has exposed a significant issue that has been evident for much of the season – their lack of a reliable, recognised striker.
While they have many attacking options, including Jota, Gakpo, and Diaz, none of them have proven to be the focal point that the team desperately needs.
Jota was too easily knocked off the ball in both PSG ties and his hold-up play was mediocre, while Nunez’s incoherent sub display was further proof that he is not the reliable central striker this team needs to build a proper dynasty.
Football Insider revealed last month that Alexander Isak is Liverpool’s top striker target this summer and updated on 18 February that one option is a swap deal involving Nunez and Isak, with cash thrown in to sweeten the deal.
Eddie Howe made the decision to rest Isak during Newcastle’s Premier League clash against Liverpool, leading some to speculate that it was a tactical move, possibly to prevent Arne Slot from scouting his potential impact ahead of their Carabao Cup final.
Regardless, a player of that quality was missing in Liverpool’s front-line against PSG, especially when Salah fails to make the impact he so often does.
| Season statistics | Alexander Isak | Mohamed Salah | Darwin Nunez |
| Appearances | 32 | 42 | 39 |
| Goals | 22 | 32 | 7 |
| Assists | 5 | 22 | 6 |
Mohamed Salah’s goal-scoring burden exposes Liverpool’s striker crisis
Liverpool have become too reliant on Salah to provide the goals that the team needs, and it’s clear that they need a proper number nine to balance the attacking threat.
Salah has been outstanding this season, with 32 goals to his name, and has rightly been talked about as a Ballon d’Or contender. However, his goals alone have not been enough to lift Liverpool through further in the Champions League
With Salah’s Liverpool future still uncertain as his contract situation remains unresolved, the Reds cannot afford to continue relying solely on him, as the talisman’s goals will be impossible to replace.
Instead, if Salah signs a new deal, the club will need to build around him, and bringing in a striker like Isak would be the perfect step forward.
That possibility has now surely edged a few paces forward.
If Nunez were to leave, as seems all but certain, it would clear the way for the Swede to lead the line, ensuring that Liverpool finally have the centre-forward they’ve lacked all season.