Liverpool closely following £50m “game-changer”

Liverpool are 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with just six matches left to play, on the verge of their second-ever title in the division.

The Reds extended their lead at the top after they won 2-1 against West Ham United at Anfield last weekend, thanks to a late header from Virgil van Dijk.

Arne Slot winning the Premier League in his first season in English football, particularly given that Jurgen Klopp only won one in his tenure at Anfield, is set to be an extraordinary achievement by the Dutch head coach.

However, there is still room for improvement for the Reds because they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle, knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, and lost to Newcastle United in the League Cup final.

Their failure to maintain their high standards in the Premier League across all competitions suggests that the depth of the squad is not where it needs to be in order to compete on all fronts.

This is why the Reds could be active in the summer transfer window to bolster their team with new recruits, with Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen one name reportedly on their list.

Why Dean Huijsen could be a good signing

The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed earlier this month that Liverpool are one of a number of clubs that are interested in a deal to sign the Cherries central defender ahead of next season.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be keen on the Spain international, as they all look to improve their defensive options.

Ornstein added that they have all made contact with the player’s representatives ahead of a potential move this summer, and revealed that he has a £50m release clause in his contract.

Huijsen could be a good addition to the Liverpool squad as a player who can come into the team when Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate are unavailable, as there is no urgent need to bring in a new regular starter in that position.

The current pairing has helped the Reds to have the second-best defensive record in the division, with 31 conceded in 32 games, and it seems unlikely that Slot would want to break up that pairing, especially amid reports that van Dijk has agreed a new two-year deal at Anfield.

Huijsen, at the age of 20, could come in with the future in mind as a long-term successor to either van Dijk or Konate, whilst being able to provide quality when he does step in as a rotation option, as shown by his form for Bournemouth this season.

As you can see in the table above, Huijsen can offer progression with his use of the ball whilst also being incredibly active defensively to keep opposition teams at bay.

As good of a signing as the Spanish star would be, due to the strength in depth he would provide, Liverpool could land an even better signing with this latest rumour.

The latest on Liverpool’s interest in Premier League star

According to The Boot Room, Liverpool have been closely following West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Reds have a ‘credible interest’ in the Ghana international, who could be on his way out of the London Stadium ahead of next season.

It states that West Ham are willing to cash in on the former Ajax star this summer and that a fee in the region of £50m could be enough to secure his services, despite him having a release clause worth £80m.

The Boot Room adds, however, that a transfer to the Saudi Pro League remains a real possibility, which suggests that Liverpool could face some strong competition for his signature.

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Slot must, now, push for the club to win the race for Kudus’ signature because he could be an even better signing than Huijsen, which is why he should be made the priority target ahead of the young defender.

Why Kudus would be a better signing than Huijsen

Whilst Huijsen would come in as a back-up option behind Konate and van Dijk in the pecking order, instead of a signing to bolster the starting XI, Kudus could arrive as a frontline star for the Reds.

The left-footed wizard has failed to offer consistent production in the final third this season, with three goals and two assists in the Premier League, but he has been in a struggling West Ham team that are currently 17th in the division.

Last season, under David Moyes, Kudus proved his quality in the top-flight and in the Europa League, which is what Liverpool should base their assessment of his talent on.

The Reds are not a team that is expected to be battling against relegation and playing on the counter with few opportunities to get on the ball in the final third, as has been the case for West Ham this season, which is why the winger could get back to his best at Anfield.

As you can see in the table above, Kudus outperformed his xG in both the Premier League and the Europa League – hitting 13 goals – and provided a creative threat in both competitions, with eight ‘big chances’ created.

Meanwhile, Jota, who has been a regular starter up front of late, has only scored six goals from 8.25 xG and only provided three assists in the Premier League this season.

This suggests that the potential is there for Kudus to come in as an upgrade on Jota in the centre-forward position as a versatile attacker who can move and interchange within the front three, due to his ability to play centrally or on the wing.

The £50m-rated star was once described as a “game-changer” by analyst Ben Mattinson, which is exactly what he could be in the final third for Liverpool by offering more of a ruthless edge in front of goal than Jota if Liverpool can get the attacker back to his best.

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Liverpool are planning for sweeping changes in the transfer market this summer.

Therefore, Kudus could come in as an even better signing than Huijsen as a domestic transfer target because the potential is there for him to come straight into the starting XI, rather than only arriving as a squad option.