With Liverpool‘s pre-season tour in the US about to start, the daybreak of the Arne Slot period is beginning to really feel very actual certainly.
In simply over three weeks, Liverpool will journey to Portman Highway to kick off the 2024/25 Premier League season in opposition to newly-promoted Ipswich City, and probably the most pertinent questions lingering proper now could be whether or not the Reds can have accomplished a signing.
Together with Fulham, Liverpool are considered one of solely two top-flight outfits which have but to welcome a recent face to their senior squad, with sporting director Richard Hughes revealing that the Merseysiders’ switch window is constructing as much as an August “crescendo” that may very well be realised as soon as Slot has his full first group at his disposal and might precisely decide the place to herald a recent face.
Liverpool are properly stocked throughout the park however will make a transfer if an attractive alternative presents itself within the weeks to return. Whereas there’s radio silence in the intervening time, one journalist believes that FSG may but transfer to a high goal from earlier within the window.
Liverpool switch information
As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool might want to pay a jaw-dropping price of £100m to signal Anthony Gordon this summer season, with Newcastle United believed to be assured that they are going to retain the England worldwide’s companies.
Nonetheless, one month in the past, when the Magpies have been tormented by PSR considerations, they supplied the one-time Reds academy member to FSG as they desperately fought to stability the books, and there are fears that the boyhood Liverpool fan’s head has been turned.
Nonetheless, Liverpool correspondent David Lynch has not too long ago claimed that the deal isn’t lifeless, saying: “On Anthony Gordon, I feel that’s one which has an actual probability of being revived perhaps later within the window.”
After all, £100m claims imply that signing the Newcastle man would include a bigger determine than that paid for club-record signing Darwin Nunez, who signed from Benfica in a deal rising to £85m two years in the past, however Gordon’s trajectory factors towards it being well worth the stress.
Anthony Gordon’s 23/24 season in numbers
When the 2022/23 Premier League season reached its conclusion, Gordon in all probability hadn’t achieved sufficient to persuade Newcastle supporters that he was value the £45m determine that had been paid to Everton for his companies 5 months earlier.
Throughout 16 outings for the Toon, he didn’t convey all of it collectively and solely opened his account on the ultimate day of time period, scoring in a 1-1 draw in opposition to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Hindsight’s an exquisite factor, and the seeds of success have been there, merely unharnessed. One yr on and England supporters throughout the nation are calling for Gordon to be a starring determine in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad after an incredible marketing campaign that noticed him topped United’s Participant of the Yr.
Eddie Howe’s outfit have been stricken by accidents after beforehand qualifying for the Champions League, that means that they are going to be restricted to home motion subsequent yr – would possibly that play into Liverpool’s palms? – however Gordon shone all through.
Throughout all competitions, the 23-year-old scored 12 targets and added 11 assists as his tempo and efficiency down the left flank overwhelmed opponents and fashioned a lethal partnership with Alexander Isak, who’s shaping into considered one of Europe’s greatest efficient centre-forwards.
If Lynch is to be believed, the Merseysiders would possibly simply make an official method to signal Gordon later down the road, with FSG bosses already suggesting that August would be the time to do enterprise at Anfield.
The Reds are properly stocked however are all the time searching for methods to enhance, and Gordon would possibly even show to be an improve on the in-form Cody Gakpo.
Why Anthony Gordon may very well be a Cody Gakpo improve
Gakpo was one of many standout performers at this summer season’s European Championship and, after his sturdy end to the 2023/24 marketing campaign with Liverpool, might be decided to rise in prominence underneath Slot’s tutelage.
He bagged 5 targets and three assists over the ultimate three months of the top-flight time period regardless of solely receiving seven begins, and thus might be wanting to play a giant half this yr, competent out broad and up entrance.
However Gordon, an out-and-out winger, is a “menace” of a participant – as stated by journalist Antonio Mango – with electrical pace and fear-inducing motions. As you will notice beneath, he outperformed his Dutch counterpart throughout virtually each metric within the Premier League final yr.
Premier League 23/24: Anthony Gordon vs Cody Gakpo |
||
---|---|---|
Statistics |
||
Matches performed |
35 |
35 |
Matches began |
34 |
17 |
Targets |
11 |
8 |
Assists |
10 |
5 |
Cross completion |
82% |
79% |
Huge probabilities created |
16 |
5 |
Photographs per sport |
2.3 |
1.9 |
Key passes per sport |
1.6 |
0.7 |
Dribbles per sport |
1.5 |
0.9 |
Ball recoveries per sport |
3.6 |
2.3 |
Duels received per sport |
5.3 |
3.7 |
Stats by way of Sofascore |
Gakpo may be the naturally higher finisher however Gordon’s tempo and playmaking high quality permits him to wreak havoc from a variety of avenues – furthermore, he is crisper in possession and extra energetic within the duel.
There’s a good declare that Gakpo, who was pigeonholed in a lot of positions underneath Jurgen Klopp final yr, would increase his sport significantly underneath a coach corresponding to Slot who would assign him a singular function, enhancing efficiency, enriching fluency.
However praised for his “fearless” presence on the pitch by Tyneside icon Alan Shearer, Gordon would convey the entire gamut to Slot’s door, and he really may show to be a masterful addition to a gifted squad. Luis Diaz additionally exists, a key member of the group, however Gordon, ought to he carry his type into the brand new marketing campaign, may show to trump the lot.
Due to this fact, Liverpool would solely rating a significant win by bringing Gordon again to his dwelling metropolis. Whereas strategies of a £100m determine would seemingly dissuade FSG from performing, the summer season market could but see a lot of adjustments that would go away Liverpool free to make their transfer.
Gordon, as Lynch places it, would soar on the probability to affix the membership.
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He’d full the Reds’ midfield and supply a newfound sense of “magic”.