Despite making just one permanent signing throughout 2024, Liverpool look to be in a good place.

Supporters would like to have seen a few more arrivals for the Reds, but there’s little question that they have made the most out of what they have.

Plenty of that has been down to the refresh a change in coach has had on the Liverpool squad.

While Jurgen Klopp will always be a Liverpool legend, it is clear that the new approach and perspective of Arne Slot has been welcome.

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Having signed only Federico Chiesa since arriving, though, this Liverpool team is still likely to be a long way from the ultimate vision Slot has at Anfield.

2025 should start to see the Liverpool head coach shape that vision, mind you, and Slot has now reportedly identified – and is pushing to sign – a player who could fit right into that.

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Since joining Liverpool, Slot has been at pains to point out that his style of play is not dissimilar to the one Klopp demanded of his team.

Nevertheless, the Dutchman is certain to have his own ideas about what he wants moving forward.

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As a result, the two transfer windows of 2025 will be very instructive.

The kind of player Liverpool look to sign will indicate which direction Slot wants to move in.

And according to French outlet RMC Sport, the 46-year-old has already given the green light for the Reds to step up their pursuit of Lyon forward Rayan Cherki.

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Reports from this week have claimed that Liverpool have made a £17m bid for Cherki in order to bring him to Anfield in January.

Although they neither confirm nor deny this, RMC Sport do claim that Liverpool have ‘intensified contacts’ with Cherki after being impressed by his performances this season.

The Reds have reportedly been tracking the 21-year-old ‘for a while’ and see him as a ‘short and medium term’ solution.

As well as Slot, the ‘thinking heads’ at Liverpool are said to all appreciate Cherki, with Lyon set to demand somewhere in the region of £25m or lower to sell him.

With Liverpool’s pursuit of Cherki seemingly gathering pace, plenty of supporters have been left scratching their heads.

While the Frenchman is clearly an extraordinarily talented player, there are question marks over his application and, more relevantly, where he would fit in at Liverpool.

However, we’d argue that it is actually relatively clear what Cherki would be signed to do.

GoalsAssistsChances CreatedPass Accuracy %Dribble Success %ShotsLigue 10.250.252.9883.262.12.23Europa League0.360.715.3678.268.41.79Rayan Cherki 2024/25 per 90 minutes

The France U21 star is a left-footed forward.

Given the current Mohamed Salah contract predicament, it isn’t too much of a stretch to see the job Liverpool could envisage for Cherki.

Cherki is not an especially similar forward to Salah, but most of his time for Lyon is spent attacking the box from wide areas.

This would track with what he could be asked to do by Slot.

As well as being a potential solution in that respect, though, it is possible that Cherki is also being earmarked for the ‘Dominik Szoboszali’ role at the top of Liverpool’s midfield.