How Liverpool's Amorim pursuit could lead Arsenal to Gyokeres transfer

Updated: 11 Apr 2024 17:58 BST
4 min read

Liverpool’s chase for their ideal Jurgen Klopp replacement could be drawing closer to a conclusion with reports that Ruben Amorim has already drawn up his three-man shortlist of players he would like to bring with him from Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim is believed to be Liverpool’s top choice to succeed Klopp when he steps down this summer after seeing former leading candidate Xabi Alonso commit his future to Bayer Leverkusen.

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Liverpool are believed to have held talks with Amorim’s representatives in recent days and an agreement is likely to eventually be reached despite the Sporting boss insisting there is no truth to the speculation.

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Portuguese outlet Jornal Noticias has claimed that Amorim has identified three targets from his current club whom he would like Liverpool to sign if he were to take over at Anfield in defenders Goncalo Inacio and Ousmane Diomande, as well as midfielder Martin Hjulmand.

English winger Marcus Edwards is also believed to be a potential option but, perhaps curiously to some, Sporting top scorer Viktor Gyokeres is not a player mentioned to be on Amorim’s list.

The 25-year-old has been prolific this season, leading to significant interest from Arsenal, and his absence from Amorim’s shortlist could indicate that a transfer to the Gunners is more likely than ever.

© IMAGO - Viktor Gyokeres has been prolific for Sporting this season

Gyokeres unlikely to be a top priority for Liverpool

Gyokeres only joined Sporting last summer from Coventry City for €21 million, having been the second top scorer in the Championship last season with 21 goals.

The Swedish international took his fine form to his new club and his 31 goal contrubtions in 26 games will see Arsenal among other sides look to test Sporting’s resolve in the summer.

STATS

40

Games
24

Goals
9

Assists

FootballTransfers understands Gyokeres is Arsenal’s top target, with his contract containing a €100m release clause – a figure which Liverpool are perhaps reluctant to spend on another striker, having purchased Darwin Nunez from Benfica in 2022 for a similar fee.

While Liverpool may look to spend big on a forward like Edwards this summer, a lot may depend on the future of Mohamed Salah, who is expected to be the subject of strong interest from Saudi Arabia once again.

With the likes of Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo around in attack, Amorim is seemingly more focused on Liverpool’s defence as Virgil van Dijk is in his thirties and Joel Matip looks set to leave upon the expiry of his contract.

Inacio has been a long-term target for Liverpool as a left-sided centre-back while Diomande has established himself as one of the best young ball-playing defenders in Europe – a tag which means the Reds would face strong interest in him for any transfer.

Hjulmand, meanwhile has also been integral for Sporting in defensive midfield and Amorim’s choice of targets for Liverpool indicates that he has already assessed the needs for the Premier League side ahead of any potential summer switch to Merseyside.