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With Darwin Nunez looking likely to leave, Arne Slot needs a more reliable goal-getter through the middle of his attack.

Alexander Isak is the dream target for Liverpool, but with the Swede looking difficult to get out of Newcastle, they need to have a clear back-up plan.

“One thing you got from Richard very quickly is how much he loves Italian strikers and forwards.”

With Hughes’ love of Italian forwards in mind, here are three who Liverpool could well be quietly targeting as their next number nine.

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

While it remains something of a mystery as to what Slot truly wants and needs from his number nine at Liverpool, some markers of the Reds’ transfer business are likely to remain.

First of all, they are unlikely to go in for players who are much over the age of 25.

They want players who have a good amount of experience for their age and as a result a decent sample size to scout from.

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Slot also suggested he wants a centre-forward who can facilitate play as well as score goals, so that should be in Hughes’ mind, too.

Finally, Liverpool will likely not want to spend too much if they can help it.

Bearing all of these factors in mind, here are three players we think fans would do well to keep an eye on this summer.

If Liverpool do turn to Serie A for a forward this summer then Mateo Retegui will likely be the first name they land on.

The Italy international has had a supreme first season at Atalanta having joined from Genoa last summer.

With 22 goals he is the division’s top scorer.

Turning 26 later this month, Retegui is perhaps slightly older than Liverpool may generally look at, but his steady development at clubs such as Estudiantes, Talleres, Tigre, Genoa and now Atalanta make him an interesting prospect.

Atalanta don’t tend to get much wrong with their recruitment and after being signed for around £22m just one year ago, they would expect a hefty fee for Retegui.

Nevertheless, he is marking himself out as one of Europe’s top strikers and may be on Hughes’ list.

Should Liverpool want to look slightly younger for their options this summer, then Bologna’s Santiago Castro is one they have to be aware of.

Only 20, Castro has been slowly making his mark in Serie A after arriving from Velez Sarsfield in January 2024.

This season the Argentine has gone up another level, hitting eight league goals and registering four assists as he slips into Bologna’s starting XI.

Although he wears nine on his back Castro is capable of dropping deep as well, and looks like he could be Serie A – and Argentina’s – next breakout star centre-forward.

Another younger option Liverpool could take a look at is Empoli forward Sebastian Esposito.

Of the three players on this list Esposito is the one who most fits the description of ‘facilitator.’


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