There are many stickers at Liverpool currently. Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo occupy all of the forward space at the club. Moreover, one could even count Harvey Elliott as a forward, considering he’s often filled in for Salah on the right-hand side.
With no Anfield exits in attacking areas so far, it remains to be seen why Liverpool is being linked with a move for Newcastle star Anthony Gordon. Both the Daily Star and HITC have speculated that the player could sign for the Reds this summer.
The English forward scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists for Newcastle last season, but the club might have to sell after failing to reach the Champions League places, finishing seventh.
The lack of money from the Champions League, and the need to meet reach the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules before June 30, means Gordon could be sacrificed for the greater good, or rather to balance the books.
Yet the question needs to be asked, do Liverpool actually need Gordon at this stage?
The simple answer can be found in the opening paragraph of this article. Liverpool currently has five forwards, and there isn’t any need to add a sixth. Much will depend of course on what kind of system new coach Arne Slot interprets at Liverpool.
Jürgen Klopp was wedded to a 4-3-3 for most of his time at Liverpool, yet it remains to be seen if Slot will traverse down the same path. The system under Klopp meant it was vital the club had ample forwards, with many of them able to switch positions if needed.
Should Slot want to implement a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-2-1 system, then there isn’t even a need for five forwards, let alone add a sixth.
The logical move would be to wait until someone leaves Anfield in the summer, with Salah and Díaz both linked with moves away from Merseyside this summer.
Díaz is continually linked with a move to Barcelona, although whether the Catalans could afford to buy the Colombian remains to be seen, considering its financial struggles. Salah is still within sight of the Saudi Pro League. Yet as for now, no bids have been made for either.
Gordon would be a good signing for Liverpool in itself, but when considering the number of forwards Liverpool has at the club, such a move makes little sense.
Moreover, with Gordon’s best position on the left-hand side, what would it mean for Gakpo? Who has shown for The Netherlands at Euro 2024 that playing on the left-hand side is his ideal position.
The links make little sense, despite such reports claiming Liverpool has made ‘contact’ with Newcastle over the player.
