Liverpool news: Arne Slot eyes swoop for winger as major doubts emerge over £85m transfer

View 3 Images

Arne Slot looks set to lead Liverpool into the summer and beyond, with major surgery required on his underperforming squad. The reigning Premier League champions have been a huge disappointment this year, despite being backed to the tune of £450 million last summer.

It's been hard to pinpoint just where the Reds' struggles are coming from. One point of contention is that Luis Diaz, who left for Bayern Munich last summer , has not been suitably replaced.

The Reds are now set to lose club legends Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of the season. Robertson and Salah's impending exit , coupled with the ongoing quest to replace Diaz and, not to mention, the club's need to address their midfield and full-back issues, could mean a huge summer lies in wait for Slot and Liverpool .

Today's news sees an in-demand striker linked with a switch to Liverpool, while the club have reportedly cooled on a long-term target.

RB Leipzig attacker Antonio Nusa is reportedly a target for Liverpool this summer. Nusa may be somewhat of an unknown for the Anfield faithful but the 21-year-old joined Leipzig in 2024 and has five goals and four assists in 34 appearances this season.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

The i Paper claims that the Reds, while holding interest in other targets, have their sights on Nusa. The report says: "They are prepared to commit up to £75m to sign RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, with Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain another possible target. Antonio Nusa, who primarily plays on the left, is another on Liverpool’s radar."

View 3 Images

Predominantly a left-winger, the Norwegian star can play across the front three and has even played in the number ten role on occasion. While Nusa is thought to be generating interest from the Reds, should he ignite interest through his performances at the World Cup this summer, his price tag could rise even further.

Securing his signature could prove tricky. He is said to have drawn interest from Arsenal , Aston Villa , Newcastle , Tottenham , Milan, Napoli and Atletico Madrid.

The interest in Nusa could stem from the surprising news that the Reds may have cooled on a reported long-term target. While Nusa's RB Leipzig team-mate, Yan Diomande, has been the name on the lips of Liverpool fans when it comes to new signings for some time, the club have reportedly distanced themselves from a swoop for the winger.

According to the Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele, the Reds are just not that impressed with the 19-year-old's output. The reporter has said: "Liverpool are just a bit unsure whether to trigger an £85 million-ish fee for a player who in the grand scheme of things, is relatively unproven. His numbers aren’t that good. They’re not like jump off the screen good."

View 3 Images

Diomande, an Ivory Coast international, has 13 goals and nine assists in 35 games for the Bundesliga side this season. Yet his steep price tag, combined with his age and the fact that Liverpool will be looking for a sure thing when it comes to recruiting Salah's replacement, means an expected transfer could actually be wide of the mark.

Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff has also insisted that only a huge fee could force his team to release Diomande, making any deal difficult to pull off.

"I can say: If I were sporting director, I wouldn't sell this young player, who hasn't even completed a full season with us," he told Sky Germany. "No matter what price is being asked. I believe he's a player who can still develop further, because he's still very young. And he can certainly become more expensive."

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.