Hugo Ekitike’s major injury almost ended Liverpool’s season with Arne Slot.
The Frenchman is the club’s leading goalscorer and if there was one successful signing last summer, it was the Frenchman.
However, now they won’t see him again until 2027. Suffering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, he will now miss at least the next nine months.
Liverpool, at least, have Alexander Isak back from a long-term injury, but with Mohamed Salah set to leave Anfield in the summer, an attack overhaul is needed.
Liverpool could sign the £80m winger this summer
24 hours after Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG, they surprisingly saw Luis Diaz shoot Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
His departure last summer didn’t sound too difficult at the time, especially when Isak, Ekitike and Florian Wirtz all arrived.
However, with the Colombian defender scoring 42 goals this season, it’s safe to say they missed him.
As a result, finding a replacement for Salah is not the only priority in the summer. They must also look at how they can end up shutting down Diaz.
However, for Anthony Gordon, they can do just that. A report in The Telegraph on Thursday morning claims that Gordon is open to leaving Newcastle United in the coming months.
The Englishman has attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Arsenal, while the German club have reportedly made him one of their early targets.
However, the Reds could also be on the table. They note that amid interest from Liverpool last summer, Gordon is a young Reds fan and would ‘jump at the chance’ of a move to Anfield if the opportunity arose. That certainly puts Slot’s side in pole position to secure his services.
If Liverpool do move, then it may take an £80m bid to prize him away from St James’ Park. Newcastle value him very much but how difficult can negotiations be given how the Isak saga played out in 2025.
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How does Gordon compare to Gakpo
Ten years ago, Liverpool signed Sadio Mane from Southampton for £34m. A proven left-back in the Premier League, the Senegalese is a modern icon at Anfield, scoring 120 goals in 269 appearances.
However, ten years later, FSG could repeat that trick by storming the Premier League and acquiring one of the best strikers outside of the traditional six clubs.
Like Mane, Gordon is a bundle of energy, an incredibly direct player and could provide a different dimension to Liverpool’s attack, not to mention he could also re-establish a good relationship with Isak.
Salah and Ekitike may need to be replaced but it is Cody Gakpo who can be improved here. The Dutchman has endured a sticky season, failing to score in his last ten league appearances.
In fact, Gakpo’s recent run has been so poor that he has only scored one goal in his last 18 games in all competitions. Things could not have been more different as far as Gordon was concerned. On the contrary, he enjoys running well.
The Toon star has found the back of the net 11 times in the last 23 games, scoring four goals in one game against Qarabag. In total this quarter, he has 17 goals, nine more than Gakpo.
In front of goal, there will be immediate improvements, but what about elsewhere?
|
Gordon vs Gakpo: 2025/26 League statistics |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Mathematics (in 90 minutes) |
Gordon |
Nope |
|
Goals |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Shots |
1.9 |
1.8 |
|
Gun accuracy |
54% |
36% |
|
Conversion rate |
12.5% |
8.2% |
|
It helps |
0.1 |
0.2 |
|
Opportunities are created |
1.3 |
1.9 |
|
The accuracy of the jump |
21% |
12% |
|
The takeover is complete |
1.6 |
1.2 |
|
Duels won |
4.9 |
5.5 |
Well, it would seem that Gordon is the better footballer, completing more dribbles in 90 minutes. He is at his best in front of goal, with shot accuracy and conversion rate quite impressive.
Interestingly, despite boasting fewer chances created than Gakpo this term, the former Everton star has better crossing accuracy.
The truth of the matter is that for a very long time, Liverpool’s Dutch winger has been far from it. His inconsistency is becoming a major problem for Slot and Co.
Although Gordon is not the most consistent goalscorer in the world, they will be signing a striker here who is very efficient with his actions.
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