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Liverpool have spent nearly £300 million in the transfer market this summer and Richard Hughes is showing no signs of slowing down.

The Reds are undergoing major surgery of Arne Slot’s title-winning side and will line up to face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday with a new-look starting XI.

Florian Wirtz and his blockbuster acquisition from Bayer Leverkusen stand as the most notable of the Liverpool incomings this summer, despite sporting new faces in both full-back spots and, of course, the arrival of Hugo Ekitike.

However, Darwin Nunez will depart Anfield for Al-Hilal following Luis Diaz out the door, leaving Slot with only four senior attackers – two short of the six options he would ideally like to rely on.

Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

Therefore, the Reds will continue to scour the market to add another proven attacking option to the lineup, and the criteria for such a signing have been laid bare.

According to James Pearce, the Reds will target a new attacker who “(has) sufficient quality to start, represent(s) fair market value & (will) be realistically attainable.”

Alexander Isak is the dream signing, but as things stand, Liverpool are not planning another bid for the Swede, at least until Newcastle United indicate a willingness to sell despite Nunez’s impending departure.

The Magpies have stood firm on their no-sale stance, and with Eddie Howe losing out on Benjamin Sesko, it is unlikely that Isak’s £150m valuation will be met by the Reds as Newcastle struggle to acquire a suitable replacement.

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Ironically, Nunez doesn’t meet the criteria for his own replacement, having started only eight Premier League matches last term – it is clear Slot wants a significant upgrade to lead the line.

Pearce additionally reported that the Reds are eager not to block the pathway for starlet Rio Ngumoha, who impressed against Athletic Bilbao and has risen into first-team contention throughout pre-season.

Although it was time for Nunez to call time on his massively underwhelming Liverpool career, it leaves Hughes with more work to do in the transfer market, and he must move quickly to sign an appropriate replacement amid a bigger hole to fill in the centre-back department.

Liverpool have demonstrated ruthlessness in the transfer market, thwarting the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Newcastle for key targets and moving quickly to finalise deals.

However, the Reds’ pursuit of another attacker after Ekitike is not reminiscent of the traditional approach and is starting to feel like a somewhat disorganised, scattergun approach.

It should come as no surprise to supporters that Hughes and co.

have a shortlist of alternatives should Isak not materialise this summer.

Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images

But Fabrizio Romano’s revelation of Liverpool pursuing Bradley Barcola as an Isak alternative came completely from left field, considering the Reds were reportedly chasing Real Madrid star Rodrygo in July.

Those links have since dried up, and with youngsters Ngumoha and Ben Doak impressing as of late, it only makes sense for the next addition to challenge Ekitike for the number 9 spot.

There will be plenty of twists and turns in the transfer window, and Liverpool have shown they will be proactive rather than reactive, but the end of this saga will depend on how Isak reacts at St James’ Park.


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