Relentless Liverpool are out to send a message

The greatest window in the club's history is taking shape

***First things first. My thoughts are with the people, the family, and friends of those affected by the horrific events at the Liverpool parade. It is such a relief to hear that only 11 people remain in hospital and all are in a stable condition.

I hope and all but know the club will get these people the counselling they need and look after them in every way that matters. I also know as a community we will rally around these people and make sure they want for nothing.

Sometimes it can sound cheesy, but sometimes it’s the perfect message at the right time. You’ll NEVER walk alone.

It seems so unimportant to talk about transfers and where the club are heading given all that transpired the past few days, but part of the healing process is to gradualy return to “normality”, whatever that is. Now that I hear everyone is safe, I feel I can do that. I won’t be adding any “buy me a coffee” button to this post, please donate to the incredible Royal Liverpool Hospital and their staff if you can.***

Liverpool are league champions once more. Are FSG resting on their laurels? Not a bit of it. Wirtz (the best modern “10” in the world), Frimpong, and Kerkez targeted and all but signed in every case and now they’ve turned their attention to Hugo Ekitike.

I don’t think it’s much of a secret that Nunez is out of the door. He didn’t perform anything like expected last season, but I still believe he would have been given a chance had it not been for him quitting in a game for all to see. Arne Slot rightly called him out saying he could deal with the lack of production but not the attitude or lack of effort and from that moment on, the writing was on the wall for the mercurial Uruguayan. Nothing is ever straight forward when it comes to Liverpool and Uruguayan strikers it seems.

Liverpool have looked at Isak but Champions League football seems set to keep him at the Saudi sportswashing project. Oh and while we are it, 6 Champions League places? Really? It’s harder to get into most clubs in Liverpool now than it is to get in the Champions league with under 70 points apparently.

Alvarez, my personal choice, seems happy enough at Atletico Madrid.

So now we come to the Frenchman, Hugo Ekitike. I watched on in admiration at him, Marmoush, Knauff and Gotze. Eintracht Frankfurt’s attack was clearly something special, but as is usually the case it was picked apart. Marmoush, who I’m not going to lie I wanted, went to the Abu Dhabi sportswashing project and now it seems Ekitike is off and it looks like it could be to Liverpool or London.

Ekitike is an all world talent. At 22 he has 18 goals and 11 assists in 39 games. excellent numbers all things considered. Losing a player as good as Marmoush didn’t phase him and with the added responsibility he contiunued to thrive. His dribbling is incredible and his movement off the ball is impressive, but he’s not a natural goalscorer. Guess what, neither was Thierry Henry and neither is Dembele. He does have an array of finishes which helps his goal tally, but watching him the issue is his composure in the box. Isak and Alvarez are always looking to score goals, the touches are minimal and the efficiency is what makes them stand out. Isak almost metronomic, Alvarez more naturally gifted as a natural finisher.

Interestingly the most underrated part of Ekitike’s game is how hard he works when looking to win the ball back, something Liverpool will absolutely love if he chooses to make the move to Anfield.

He undoubtedly has the highest ceiling of the three in terms of just pure natural ability. If he simplifies his game in the box, he will be the best of the three but he will never be the natural scorer that Alvarez is.

So given there’s a better player out there, who is more suited to the position as a striker, why am I excited about Ekitike other than what he might be? What he is already is excellet which means he’s low risk and exceptionally high reward.

Let’s imagine he signs for Liverpool, he’s going to be playing as a centre forward and he will be flanked, to some degree at least, by Salah and Wirtz. Just read that again and smile, because that’s insane. He links up play excellently so the “false 9” role will not be an issue. So at worse, he gets the ball to two world class players and chips in with goals and assists. Any team would want that. At best he does this and simplifies his game in the box and due to his variety of finishing after becoming more efficient becomes a 30 goal a season striker, basically a more talented Isak. Madness.

The real genius here though is, if he doesn’t you can still bring in a player like Alvarez, ie a more natural goalscorer and he can the wing or as a “support striker” because of his dribbling ability, football IQ, goals and assists. There’s little to no risk.

I’m still apprehensive over Wirtz actually signing because it feels surreal, but it seems like it’s all but done. I’m going to allow myself to dream and I’m going to imagine a strikeforce of Wirtz - Ekitike - Salah and I’m telling you if it happens, it can rival any strikeforce in Europe.

I’m not sure how FSG got a hold of my EAFC save but I’m sure glad they did. Hato joining wouldn’t be a surprise, but if they sign Alvyn Sanches from Laussane-Sport and turn him into a forward, I’m going to have to upgrade my security.