Liverpool make the £87m winner their top target

If Liverpool are in contention for the Champions League, they are a Chihuahua among Rottweilers.

That’s right now, with Arne Slott’s side completely devastated by their 2-1 defeat at lowly Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday evening, looking at the Reds as they started to build steam.

It is clear that Slot needs to fix this problem. Missing the European elite would be a disaster. Whether the Reds have the conviction to do that remains to be seen, but they have quality, which makes this endless struggle even more frustrating.

However, the Anfield team is not well balanced, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah both preferred to trick down the wings.

This is something that needs to be fixed when summer comes.

Liverpool are preparing to sign new players

Salah, 33, has been poor this season, and while he still comes up with the odd goal and plenty of assists, his place on the right side is arguably without a net at the moment.

Even worse is Gakpo’s form. The Dutchman is 26 years old, and is among Slot’s most trusted lieutenants. He was great last season but he has been reduced to a smaller version this year, being sharpened by opponents.

While Rio Ngumoha undoubtedly has a special talent, he is still young, 17, and not yet ready to start a role every week. With this in mind, Liverpool must strengthen.

According to Sky Germany, Liverpool have abandoned (for now) their interest in Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who will not leave the Allianz Arena under any circumstances this summer.

Instead, the Reds have launched a bid for RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande, whose name has attracted the attention of many people this season.

Diomande, 19, emerges as a professional, two-footed and direct winger who prefers the right side. In this case, he could be the perfect Salah upgrade, but it will cost FSG something up to £87m.

Why Diomande will be an upgrade on Salah

In short, Salah is getting old, and opponents are wasting his energy in front of goal too easily. Diomande is on the other side of the spectrum, young and bright and fiery.

After joining the Germans from Leganes last summer, the Ivory Coast international has scored ten goals and provided seven assists in all competitions, and in the Bundesliga, he has been one of the best in the division.

Hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Bence Bocsak, Diomande has the appeal to match, playing with a level of consistency that suggests he will thrive in the Premier League.

If you look at Salah’s performance against the Ivorian, the difference is night and day. Not only has the Liverpool legend’s output dropped, but his physical and athletic numbers are in the hole.

A lack of energy and lack of movement on the floor played a big part in Liverpool’s downfall.

It’s not just Salah’s general output that Liverpool lack, but his energy and presence as well. These things do not exist, and Slot’s program suffers because of it.

Gakpo’s struggles have only exacerbated the situation, but Slot has praised Ngumoha’s success in recent weeks, and his playing time will not decrease after the summer, even if the Merseysiders keep faith in their non-coach.

In more than four months, Gakpo has scored just once in the Premier League. It came out last, against West Ham United, and took a nasty turn that time.

The drama of the current campaign should not be repeated. Liverpool cannot afford to fall short of the standards that Jurgen Klopp has masterfully set over the years. Liverpool need a new player, and Diomande might be the best option available to them.

If Liverpool were to sign Diomande, Gakpo would pale in comparison. Liverpool will then need to sign another player, but that is another story.

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