Slot eyeing CL winner as temporary Isak successor

Liverpool have reportedly recognized an satisfactory substitute for Alexander Isak amid the striker’s damage layoff.

The Swede hobbled off simply after scoring of their 2-1 win over Spurs final weekend, just for scans to disclose he had damaged his leg following a problem from Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven.

This leaves Liverpool significantly gentle up high, with Hugo Ekitike as the one senior centre-forward, Mohamed Salah away on the Africa Cup of Nations and Federico Chiesa – but to start out within the Premier League or Champions League this time period – lower than favoured by Arne Slot.

Slot should now decide as as to whether he ought to repair the Reds’ striker woes from inside or look to the switch market, which opens in lower than per week.

And in keeping with experiences, Liverpool have shortlisted some attacking expertise – with one standing out as an ideal stand-in for the stricken Isak.

Liverpool establish Champions League winner Goncalo Ramos as Isak stopgap

In line with CaughtOffside, Liverpool are contemplating a transfer for PSG striker Goncalo Ramos, who they view as a short-term resolution to Isak’s damage woes.

The report additionally namechecks Ivan Toney and Dusan Vlahovic as doable attacking targets, although they’re seen as longer-term choices by the powers that be at Anfield.

Rodrygo and Bradley Barcola had been additionally talked about, although neither are standard No 9s.

Ramos has been largely a bit-part participant for the French and European champions, having began simply eight Ligue 1 video games all season, scoring 9 instances throughout 23 appearances in all competitions.

His lack of recreation time is unquestionably what makes him a viable, and maybe life like, possibility in Liverpool’s eyes, with Ramos’ minutes barely an enchancment on final 12 months, albeit with the Portugal ace having hung out out with a long-term ankle damage in late 2024.

Regardless of this, you’d marvel if his recreation time would considerably enhance if the Reds had been to make a transfer, with Ekitike clearly the first-choice striker on Merseyside at current – solely Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago have scored extra usually within the Premier League.

Nevertheless, Ramos’ purpose report suggests he does profit from his alternatives. He at present has a greater goals-per-minute charge in comparison with Isak, whereas he reached double figures within the league final time period regardless of solely amassing 12 begins.

His on-pitch impression can also be telling – he’s but to lose whereas scoring for Les Parisiens or Portugal because the begin of final season, with PSG on the successful facet each time he has bagged, save for one draw towards Strasbourg in October (and their shootout win over Spurs within the Tremendous Cup ultimate).

Due to this fact, it’s straightforward to see why Liverpool are such sturdy admirers. Whether or not they can persuade PSG to make a deal in January stays to be seen, however with a World Cup in the summertime, Ramos might be clever to think about a mid-season swap to Anfield.

Stephan Georgiou

Administrator

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the College of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Instances, sports activities enterprise publication SportsPro, Soccer FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.

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