Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Newcastle United are lining up a move for one of former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp’s favourite stars as his replacement Arne Slot prepares to settle into his new role at Anfield.
The Dutchman has some of the largest shoes to fill in Premier League history after the German’s brilliant nine years with the club cemented his legacy as one of the league’s greatest managers of all time. Now Slot is faced with the unenviable task of trying to continue that success and build upon it.
One immediate problem he’ll have to solve is what to do in the upcoming summer transfer window, with the Reds surrounded by rumours before the busy period is even open. All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah and what direction his future with the club will go after the enormous £150m bid made by Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad last summer, while Darwin Nunez’s evident unhappiness won’t fill supporters with confidence around the possibility of an exit just two years into his six-year deal.
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And in a week which has seen new rumours around goalkeeper Alisson and a potential move to the Middle East crop up, it’ll be a bud that Slot must nip quickly before things get out of hand. If any of the club’s forwards are to leave, one target they could look back to is West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, a player that has seen repeated praise from Klopp in the past.
The England international has scored an impressive 16 goals in 34 Premier League appearances this season, making him the Hammers’ top scorer and while Klopp is no longer at Anfield, his influence will no doubt be felt for some years to come, meaning it’d be no surprise to see the reds launch a bid for the 28-year-old in the summer if push came to shove.
“West Ham are a physically really strong team and they do an incredible job,” Klopp admitted to Sky Sports last season. “They have the chance for a European trophy, they’re doing so well there right now and they’ve suffered with a few injuries too so it’s really impressive.
