Liverpool is sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League following another round of fixtures this weekend. Jürgen Klopp's side left it late to secure the win against Nottingham Forest after Darwin Núñez came on as a substitute to score in the 99th minute.
The Uruguayan had missed the last three fixtures — including the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea last weekend — due to injury but made an emphatic return to the match-day squad to secure a vital three points for his side. Liverpool is now four points clear of Manchester City in second, which could be cut to just one point if they triumph over local rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
Despite welcoming back Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai from injury, Liverpool was still without key players such as Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker and several others due to issues. Setbacks have plagued the Liverpool squad throughout the 2023./24 campaign.
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And that may need to be addressed in the upcoming summer transfer window as the club looks to enter a new era without Klopp at the helm. Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today, including a shock move for a Brentford star and an international winger.
Bryan Mbuemo (Brentford)
Liverpool is being linked with a move for Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbuemo ahead of the summer transfer window. According to Fichajes, the Reds have identified Mbeumo as a potential option to replace Mohamed Salah this summer, as the club plans for life without the Egyptian.
Salah, 31, was the subject of heavy transfer interest from the Saudi Pro League last summer, with the likes of Al-Ittihad and other teams set to reignite an interest in the Liverpool talisman in the summer. The Egyptian international will be entering the final year of his contract at Anfield and while an exit is unlikely, at some point he will have to be replaced.
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NikeBrentford would demand a sizeable fee for the player — who has seven goals and three assists to his name this season — if a departure was on the cards. The 24-year-old has thrived in the absence of Ivan Toney, who missed the vast majority of the season due to a suspension.
Liverpool.com says: Mbuemo would be a smart signing from Liverpool, with his finishing ability from the right-wing offering a similar profile to Salah. Whether or not he could replicate the same successes and rise as Salah in red, remains to be seen.
Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
Liverpool is 'interested' in signing Juventus and Italy winger Federico Chiesa as a possible option to replace Mohamed Salah, according to Italian outlet TuttoSport. Salah is entering the final year of his contract this summer and Liverpool could look to enter a new era on all fronts, the report claims, with Jürgen Klopp also set to depart at the end of the current campaign.
The report goes on to state that Liverpool has shown previous interest in the player in other windows but is yet to make a formal offer for the Italian international. Juventus is said to be open to parting ways with the player but will not accept an offer lower than $54m (£43m/€50m).
Liverpool.com says: Chiesa, 26, would be another smart acquisition by the club and has been linked repeatedly with a move to Anfield. $54m is a relatively small asking price in the current market, especially when considering clubs will be aware of Liverpool's plans to replace Salah if he does depart. Chiesa's injury record, though, would be a major concern.
