Liverpool Should Sell Underperforming Forward This Summer

Liverpool are on the verge of clinching their second Premier League title in the modern era. A win would bring their total top-flight championships to 20, equaling Manchester United’s record. The title could be decided this week if Arsenal lose to Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Otherwise, Liverpool can secure it themselves against Tottenham at Anfield.

New manager Arne Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last year, has already indicated Liverpool plan to be active in the summer transfer market. With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk signing new contracts, the club appears focused on adding a top striker.

Darwin Nunez has struggled to adapt to Slot’s tactics this season, scoring just 7 goals across all competitions. He’s likely to depart, but finding an ideal replacement won’t be easy. Alexander Isak of Newcastle remains the primary target, but his £150 million valuation is prohibitive. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Brighton’s Joao Pedro have also drawn interest.

However, Nunez isn’t the only Liverpool attacker who may leave this summer. Diogo Jota has endured a difficult season and could be sold to make room for new signings. Once praised for his clinical finishing, Jota has been uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal this year.

The Portuguese forward has scored just 6 Premier League goals while missing 13 big chances. For comparison, he scored 17 goals and missed 13 big chances over the previous two seasons combined. His decline in form is evident, and he’s actually been more profligate than the much-criticized Nunez this campaign.

With Jota entering the final two years of his contract and earning £140,000 per week, it may be wise for Liverpool to cash in while they can still command a significant fee. At 28 years old, Jota is no longer displaying the sharpness that once made him one of Liverpool’s most reliable finishers.

Selling both Nunez and Jota could allow Liverpool to bring in two new strikers – an established star and a promising youngster to compete with academy product Jayden Danns. While Jota has been a valuable player for Liverpool over the past five years, his diminishing returns suggest it may be time for the club to move in a new direction as they look to remain title contenders under Slot’s leadership.