The young forwards that could bolster Liverpool’s attack next season

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 3 min read

While much of Liverpool’s poor run of form this season has been put down to injuries in defence, there’s little doubt that the team also requires additional firepower up front. 

Jurgen Klopp can, of course, call upon the attacking talents of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, who have managed to score a combined 41 goals already this season. 

However, the Anfield boss has a serious issue with strength in depth in his attacking line up. Aside from Diogo Jota, who has nine goals from wide positions, the Liverpool manager doesn’t have a reliable back-up striker to call upon this season. 

According to Paul Gorst of the Liverpool Echo, this could prove to be one of the main priorities for Liverpool as they go into the summer transfer window. 

Despite having a good relationship with the fans for showing up to score important goals in the past, Divock Origi has only scored one goal for the club this season and made just 16 appearances in all competitions. Klopp undoubtedly needs a new striker next season and here are some of the best candidates on the market. 

The forwards Liverpool should target this summer

Using SciSports data we’ve pulled together a shortlist of players that can play in the No.9 role that are currently valued under £100 million and don’t play for one of Liverpool’s main domestic or continental rivals. 

Ranked on their potential ability and perhaps most obvious appeal, Inter striker Lautaro Martinez comes on top. The 23-year-old goal scorer has been in tremendous form for the Serie A side this season, scoring an impressive 15 goals and bagging a further seven assists in just 33 games. 

Next is Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix. Although the 21-year-old talent hasn’t been as potent in front of goal this season, with just nine goals and five assists in 28 games, he has suffered from coronavirus and is expected to bounce back into form next season. Especially if he were to make the move to a new club and league, such as Liverpool. 

The next player on the list is undoubtedly a lesser known name. Matheus Cunha only joined Hertha Berlin from RB Leipzig last January but he did so for a commanding £16 million fee and since then the 21-year-old Brazilian has quickly begun to show his potential. Despite playing in a relatively dysfunctional Hertha side, Cunha has still managed to score 12 goals and pick up a further nine assists in just 32 games. 

Although he only made his move to Atalanta permanent in January 2020, Duvan Zapata had been on loan at the club for even longer and has actually played over 114 games for the Serie A side. In that time he’s clocked an impressive 60 goals and 27 assists and has been one of the most exciting attacking prospects in the Italian top flight. 

Last, but certainly not least, is Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak. Although the Swedish forward’s time at Borussia Dortmund didn’t quite work out, he has managed to settle at the Spanish club and quickly begin to show what he can do. At just 21 years of age, Isak has already picked up 28 goals and five assists in just 74 games for the La Liga side.