Liverpool targeting move for £75m “menace”

Ever since Liverpool signed Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for a world-record £75m fee, issues started to vary. Jurgen Klopp‘s tenure had already seen an exhilarating resurgence for a membership that had languished beneath the floor for what felt like an age, however the centre-back’s arrival lifted Liverpool to new heights altogether.

Borne from the seismic £142m sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, the Netherlands large’s arrival has coincided with probably the most fruitful and trophy-laden interval in Liverpool’s trendy historical past, with Premier League and Champions League titles backed by triumphs within the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup (twice), in addition to a number of different honours.

Since that fateful day, that watershed second, the Reds have certainly established themselves because the elite of the elite on the continental stage, however switch exercise has waned in recent times, and new head coach Arne Slot, appointed in Could, has but to make a senior signing.

FSG aren’t precisely resting on their laurels, slightly, biding their time as Slot works together with his current choices, fringe gamers and all, earlier than targetting an impactful signing or two within the later section of the window.

A bunch of names have been thrown about, however there’s one above all else that has had the fanbase rapt and will but full a transfer.

Liverpool switch information

As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool could but signal Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United this summer season, ought to the situations be proper. Newcastle are demanding a ballpark fee of £75m, and it stays to be seen whether or not this might show to be a sticking level.

The Magpies held discussions with Liverpool earlier within the window as Gordon’s potential sale was mooted, although the Tynesiders’ PSR issues have been put to mattress by means of a number of different gross sales.

Now, they’re hoping to enter contract talks with the 23-year-old to increase his keep at St. James’ Park and put the Reds’ curiosity to mattress, however as Romano says, Liverpool “stay ” and will launch a transfer within the coming weeks.

Why Liverpool need Anthony Gordon

If Liverpool had been to finish the signing of Gordon, whose efforts final season earned him Newcastle’s Player of the Year award and a Three Lions call-up for Euro 2024, it would not really be his first time on the membership’s books.

Gordon was really released by Liverpool throughout his early life within the academy, thus starting a profession at Everton that noticed him shine earlier than joining Newcastle in a £45m deal in January 2023.

Upon reaching the tip of the 2022/23 marketing campaign, many followers might need questioned what all of the fuss was about: the winger had only scored seven times for Everton throughout 78 fixtures and didn’t register a objective contribution below Eddie Howe’s wing throughout his opening 15 video games, breaking his duck towards Chelsea on the ultimate day of the time period.

Jamie Redknapp remarked that he needed “to see much more” from the Englishman after his gradual begin with the Toon, including efficiency to his athletic acumen, and in equity, he is carried out that with a flourish throughout the previous 12 months.

Final season, throughout all competitions, Gordon scored 12 goals and added 11 assists as his dynamic shows earned him widespread acclaim within the Premier League, with The Athletic’s Chris Waugh commenting that his “elite mentality sets him apart“.

Premier League 23/24: Anthony Gordon vs Luis Diaz
Statistics	Anthony Gordon	Luis Diaz
Matches performed	35	37
Matches began	34	32
Targets	11	8
Assists	10	5
Massive possibilities created	16	5
Cross completion	82%	85%
Photographs taken per sport	2.3	2.5
Key passes per sport	1.6	1.8
Tackles per sport	1.6	0.9
Ball recoveries per sport	3.6	3.4
Dribbles per sport	1.5	1.8
Duels received per sport	5.3	4.6
All stats through Sofascore

Gordon seems to be to have the mark of a extra rounded winger than that of Luis Diaz, Liverpool’s star man on the left flank, although (4 years youthful) he’s already much more prolific and efficient together with his goalscoring and playmaking.

It is the sort of assertion signing that may make a world of distinction to a trophy-hunting crew like Liverpool, one that would have shades of Van Dijk’s seize in 2017, revolutionising Liverpool’s assault.

Greatest signing since Van Dijk

Gordon has proved that his underlying high quality could be backed up with targets and assists aplenty, nevertheless it’s the style in how he strikes on objective, outstrips his man out on the flank, leaves backlines in wreck, that has established him as one of many Premier League’s most coveted gamers.

Reminiscent of the comparability desk with Liverpool’s Diaz, Slot already wields a tenacious and proficient possibility on the left wing however he might now rating a level-up that might see his outfit, acting at a great degree, rise to new heights fully.

Would it not be a transfer of the identical weight as that of Van Dijk? It might be the membership’s largest signing in any case, particularly when contemplating that United’s £75m calls for mirror that of Southampton’s means again when.

Van Dijk, projected to be “the best defender in the history of football” by none apart from Paolo Maldini, has been one of the crucial formidable defenders in Europe since his transfer to Liverpool, averaging a duel success charge of 72% – as per Sofascore – throughout his Liverpool profession, which is frankly absurd.

Having completed 270 appearances for the Anfield aspect, Van Dijk has certainly established himself as one of many goliaths of the trendy defensive sport, with the 33-year-old rating among the many high 10% of centre-backs throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for go completion, the highest 9% for progressive passes, the highest 4% for shot-creating actions and the highest 3% for aerial duels received per 90, as per FBref.

Hailed as a “menace” by journalist Antonio Mango, Gordon may not develop into the best-left winger on this planet, however he might actually rise to the fore with Liverpool, proving to be a transcendent signing to raise Liverpool’s assault’s ceiling.

Diaz is an immense participant however he is merely not blessed with that Midas contact in entrance of objective; Gordon, nevertheless, might convey every little thing that the Colombian provides and extra.

Liverpool have to get it carried out, for it might make all of the distinction for Slot’s fledgling venture, pointing in direction of success.