Liverpool legend Hamann is right to be worried about Darwin Nunez

Tom Weber

• Updated: 18 Dec 2023 19:40 GMT
• 5 min read

Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann has expressed concern about Darwin Nunez's recent form - and he is right to be worried.

The Uruguayan appeared to have finally turned a corner earlier in the season, but it was clearly just a flash in the pan. Since his arrival - as part of a deal that can rise to a whopping €100 million - the 24-year-old has been unable to live up to the hype and many Reds fans are beginning to turn on him.

The striker clearly has some special attributes, but his performances in recent times are making it increasingly clear that the negatives far outweigh the positives. His inability to stay onside, the fact that he can't control his temper - as again illustrated against Man Utd at the weekend when he looked hellbent on getting himself sent off - and his overall technical shortcomings are making it clear that this €100m was not money well spent.

Especially in recent weeks, Nunez has been nothing short of a liability to Jurgen Klopp's side and the striker has now gone 10 games without finding the back of the net. Liverpool legend Didi Hamann has admitted that the form of the striker should be a worry for Klopp.

“I think they missed [Alexis] Mac Allister [against Man Utd], who is probably the best player in midfield so far," Hamann said on talkSPORT, "but I think the bigger issue is probably the form of Nunez since he scored those goals away to Newcastle where I thought he’s coming into his own now and he will be the striker that everybody expected him to be. I think he’s only scored one or two goals [since then] and his form is a bit of a worry I think.”

Liverpool's alternatives

At this point, it seems evident that Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke must seriously consider signing a replacement for Nunez in 2024. The Reds have been very active in the German market due to Schmadtke's connections and it seems that the Bundesliga is their best bet to find a ready-made solution to the striker problem.

The Anfield club have been heavily linked with breakout Hoffenheim star Maximilian Beier, but there is a solid argument to be made that the 21-year-old is not yet ready to play at Liverpool's level despite his significant potential.

RB Leipzig's Lois Openda appears to be the much better option. The 23-year-old has already shown that he can score against the best sides in Europe, notching three goals against Man City in the Champions League and he is much further along in his development than Beier.

According to data experts SciSports, Openda would be a great fit for the Reds, so it is unsurprising that they have been linked with him. However, there is also another option out there, perhaps one even better suited to Klopp's style.

Looking at Liverpool's recent striker signings, there is a clear pattern: Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota are all centre-forwards who can also play out wide. This is evidently something Klopp's recruitment team has identified as a trait any incoming striker must have.

Taking this into account, there is probably no better player for the Reds out there in the Bundesliga (and perhaps even all of Europe except Kylian Mbappe) than Victor Boniface. The Bayer Leverkusen star is not only one of Europe's most in-form strikers but also one of the most unique.

The Nigerian is a winger at heart stuck in the body of a rough-hewn target-man striker. Boniface is an enthralling player, with the vision and creativity of a number ten, the pace and dribbling of a winger and the frame and goalscoring instinct of a number nine.

The 22-year-old showed his full repertoire of skills against Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, being involved in all three Leverkusen goals and if ever there was the kind of player who could do well in a Liverpool system, it is him. Indeed, SciSports believe that Boniface has the potential to become a key player for Klopp's side, in addition to already being a much better player than Nunez.

Fabrizio Romano has announced that Boniface will be one to watch in 2024 and Liverpool should definitely be in the mix to sign him. The only major worry is that he has already had two ACL injuries despite his tender years, but he might just be worth the risk.