Liverpool manager Arne Slott is facing a transfer headache with Alexander Isak expected to be out for several months after undergoing surgery on a broken foot. The striker was sent off from the pitch last weekend against Tottenham following a brutal tackle by Micky van de Ven. The severity of Isak’s injury is currently being determined, with the 26-year-old expected to miss the majority of the season following successful surgery.
As such, Slott will be left with the difficult task of finding a replacement for the key forward. However, there may be a silver lining to this unfortunate situation, as the January transfer window is just around the corner, giving Slott an opportunity to consider his options. In the meantime, Hugo Ekitike is likely to take over as Liverpool’s main striker, but Slott is no doubt looking for further reinforcements.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has already suggested some solutions.
He said on Monday Night Football: “I think it’s pretty certain that Salah will remain at Liverpool when he comes back from AFCON. People were hoping that would happen anyway and we talked about it last week.
“Harvey Elliott’s situation at Aston Villa… he feels difficult at Aston Villa so he will probably come back to the club. There has been big talk for a long time that Liverpool are interested in[Antoine]Semenyo.
“The fact that he is a wide player who can play on both flanks and your two wide players are mainly Gakpo and Salah.
“Both can play as centre-forwards and I think Liverpool will probably go in that direction[in the transfer market]rather than buying a centre-forward or signing a player they’re not really interested in.
“They seem to really like Semenyo, as do a lot of other teams. If you remember when Liverpool were missing some centre-backs a few years ago, they brought in players from Preston and players from overseas.
“They were never going to be future Liverpool players, it was just to get them until the end of the season.
“Liverpool may find a striker who can do that, but I don’t think they’re going to spend a lot of money on a player they don’t particularly like at the moment.”
There is no doubt that Semenyo is one of the most interesting players in the Premier League ahead of the start of the season in January. Liverpool have been heavily linked with the summer, with speculation surrounding a January move yet to subside.
The forward has a £65m release clause in his contract, which comes into effect within the first 10 days of the January transfer window. Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham are reportedly monitoring the situation, meaning Liverpool will have to act quickly.
However, the team in the slot may have a decisive advantage, given that they are said to be Semenyo’s preferred transfer destination.
Meanwhile, there are rumors that Elliott could make an early return to Anfield after a difficult loan spell at Aston Villa.
The young midfielder has made just five appearances since joining Unai Emery’s side on a season-long deal.
Elliott’s transfer to Villa will become permanent if he plays 10 games, but manager Emery seems hesitant to activate this clause as he has not played since early October.
As a result, talks are reportedly underway between the two clubs to end his loan on time.
With Isak out for an extended period of time, Slott may choose to pursue Liverpool’s interest in Semenyo and bring Elliott back from his loan spell to strengthen the attacking line.
