Liverpool’s summer transfer plans are starting to come into sharper focus as they play out the final four matches of the season.

The Reds now have a quartet of games in which they can try out some ideas, and solidify exactly what needs doing in the market.

According to journalist Jonathan Northcroft, one thing right near the top of Arne Slot’s list this summer is ensuring Liverpool are able to add more creativity in to the playing squad, especially if Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves.

“What’s intrigued me, just speaking to a few people around this, I think Liverpool don’t just look at positions but look at functions, or contributions, they look at a more holistic way in terms of how goals are created, how goals are stopped,” Northcroft told Anfield Index.

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“The way it was put to me was whatever Liverpool do in terms of position, they will be looking to do something in terms of increasing the creativity of the team.”

If creativity is their remit, then it’s becoming clear that Rayan Cherki is the man Liverpool need to be pinning their hopes on this summer.



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If, as is expected, Liverpool do lose Alexander-Arnold, it will leave a big hole in terms of the team’s creative function.

The right-back is a player capable of creating something from nothing and in terms of the Liverpool squad, there are not many – if any – other players able to do that to the same degree.

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As a result, bringing in someone who can bridge that gap is crucial.

It won’t be at right-back, where Conor Bradley is expected to step into Alexander-Arnold’s shoes, but Liverpool can still solve the puzzle elsewhere.

There have been reports linking Liverpool with Cherki, as well as players in a similar mould such as Xavi Simons and Morgan Rogers.

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But Cherki has several things going in his favour.

Secondly, there have been new claims that Cherki is prioritising a move to Liverpool.

Another point which marks Cherki out as the right man for Slot is that he has created 68 chances in 1,842 minutes of football this season.

He is nothing if not creative.

The one point – or one of the points – against Liverpool signing Cherki is that he perhaps does not improve the starting XI immediately.

Unless Slot is planning to use the Frenchman as a number nine, he would ideally be playing in Dominik Szoboszlai’s more advanced midfield role.

With Szoboszlai still very important to the way Liverpool play, Slot would have to tweak things to bring in a player like Cherki.

Nevertheless, as he does not turn 22 until this summer, time is very much on Cherki’s side.

He could bide his time for a little while, but if he develops the way everyone expects, he could still be one of the most special players in Europe.

Former Auxerre manager Guy Roux – who discovered talents such as Eric Cantona and Laurent Blanc – has described Cherki as ‘one of the prodigies of French football.’ Liverpool can get him for cheap this summer and he would solve this one, glaring issue within their performances.