If Liverpool are to find their feet and tick a few boxes before the end of the season, they will need Alexander Isak to be on his A-game in the closing weeks.
The Swedish striker joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a record-breaking £125m deal last summer, but so far, FSG have not got their money’s worth, with Isak out of action and failing to recover from the ankle he sustained in December, while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur.
While there is uncertainty over Arne Slot’s future at Anfield, Liverpool are well placed for success in the future, but there is a sense that more is still needed. The attacking play of the Reds does not work during the campaign, communication and creativity do not come out.
Next season, Isak will play close to the impressive form that marked his time at St. James’ Park, but he will need to find some before the summer break, to push Liverpool back to the promotion, ensuring that they have a place in next year’s Champions League and thus can sign top targets.
Liverpool are among the Premier League striker’s favourites
The transfer-focused paparazzi are understandably training their lens on Mohamed Salah, who will close the curtain on his incredible Anfield career this summer, but there’s a case to be made that Liverpool need to sign an upgrade in left-winger Cody Gakpo too.
Rio Ngumoha, 17, was a big revelation during the season, eventually starting to earn consistent minutes under Slot’s wing.
However, it is important that Liverpool do not overburden the youngster at the start of his career. He has not grown out of his skin and should continue to challenge for the starting spot, not dominate the left wing.
With that in mind, there is perhaps something to the claim that Liverpool could sign Morgan Rogers, with Caught Offside relaying reports that the Aston Villa star is looking to leave Unai Emery’s project this summer.
Top Premier League outfits such as Arsenal and Manchester United will want to sign him themselves, and with Villa putting a £100m price tag on the Three Lions star, this could turn out to be one of the defining stories of the summer.
Why Morgan Rogers is good for Liverpool
Rogers, still only 23 years old, is on the way to stardom. Since the start of last season at Aston Villa, he has scored 24 goals and provided 23 assists, hailed as “one of the best in the world” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.
Given the hefty fee that would be required, and his reputation as a Premier League star, Liverpool could re-sign Isak by adding Rogers to the ranks.
No question you had a rough start, but class lasts forever, as they say, and you will return to world class at some point. Rogers has also become an attacking midfielder.
The England international’s speed and maneuverability allows him to get forward, often used in midfield by Emery but boasting plenty of experience, particularly on the left.
Although Aston Villa will play tough football when the players start sniffing, Rogers is confident that his club will grant him his wish to move on this summer, especially if he can break out in Europe and put another Europa League title in Emery’s hands.
|
Rogers – Career Statistics by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Applications |
Terms + Help |
|
Left Wing |
105 |
28 + 13 |
|
Attacking Midfield |
75 |
20 + 14 |
|
Right Wing |
44 |
9 + 17 |
|
Center-Forward |
22 |
6 + 4 |
Isak, of course, scored the winning goal as Newcastle beat Liverpool in last year’s Carabao Cup final, so there are parallels to look out for there.
Liverpool already have two top attacking players in Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz, but their interest in Rogers is genuine, with suggestions he could return to a left-wing role, joining the likes of Isak in the middle.
Whether FSG can do it remains to be seen – especially with the need to replace Salah on the right, but if Rogers is available this summer, they would be foolish not to explore a deal.
Hailed as an attacking “machine” by Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Rogers has amassed a wealth of experience at Aston Villa, and the way things are going for Emery’s men, he could play a leading role in winning Europe before the World Cup.
He is still young, but Rogers is their talisman and is shaping up to be one of Europe’s best. In Liverpool, he would thrive.
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