Liverpool Striker Shortlist Revealed as Slot Targets No.9

Liverpool striker shortlist discussions have intensified at Melwood as new head coach Arne Slot plots a marquee centre-forward signing to complete an already lavish summer rebuild. Sources on Merseyside insist the Dutchman has persuaded Fenway Sports Group to sanction one final big-money purchase—provided a major sale balances the books. Below, we detail who is on that three-man radar, which current Red could be sacrificed, and why the timeline matters.

Liverpool striker shortlist takes shape

Slot’s recruitment team, led by sporting director Richard Hughes, has filtered dozens of candidates down to three headline names. Those close to negotiations describe the list as fluid, yet each target ticks the statistical, tactical and age-profile boxes the analytics department demands.

1. Victor Osimhen – Napoli’s powerhouse

The Nigerian has topped every Liverpool striker shortlist compiled since 2022. His blistering pace, aerial dominance and 97 Serie A goals in four seasons make him an obvious heir to Roberto Firmino’s link-play legacy. Napoli’s €120 m release clause remains a hurdle, but the player is open to Premier League football.

2. Ivan Toney – Proven Premier League pedigree

Brentford’s talisman returned from suspension with three goals in five games and brings the self-confidence Slot craves. Home-grown status sweetens the deal, though the Bees still value their captain at £65 m.

3. Santiago Giménez – The Feyenoord connection

Slot’s former striker notched 26 league goals under him last season and would relish a reunion. At £45 m, Giménez is the most affordable option and already fluent in the coach’s aggressive pressing cues.

Who could leave to unlock funds?

Insiders confirm that Luis Díaz is attracting serious interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, while Saudi Pro League clubs are courting Mohamed Salah again. FSG would prefer Díaz’s sale, estimating a £75 m fee that would almost cover Giménez and leave room for squad depth at centre-back.

Financial calculus behind the shortlist

Liverpool striker shortlist candidates were graded not only on goals per 90 and chance-creation chains but also on total cost of ownership. Wages, amortisation and resale potential heavily favour Giménez, yet immediate title ambitions push Osimhen up Slot’s preference chart.

Tactical fit in Slot’s 4-2-3-1

Osimhen’s vertical threat stretches lines, allowing Salah to drift inside. Toney offers back-to-goal interplay, key for Dominik Szoboszlai’s late bursts. Giménez’s familiarity with Slot’s automatisms would shorten the bedding-in period. Whichever name emerges from the Liverpool striker shortlist must also press aggressively; Slot has instructed scouts to supply PPDA (passes per defensive action) metrics as crucial decision data.

Timing is everything

With Euro 2024 and Copa América inflating fees, Hughes hopes to strike by late July. Any outbound transfer, however, likely hinges on Díaz’s focus during Colombia’s tournament. FSG do not want a repeat of last summer’s protracted Jordan Henderson saga that left recruiting reactive.

What happens next?

Should Díaz depart quickly, expect Liverpool to test Napoli’s resolve first. If Aurelio De Laurentiis refuses to negotiate, attention will pivot to Brentford, who privately accept Toney will not extend beyond 2025. Giménez remains the fallback, though Slot believes the Mexican could surprise English audiences in the same way Darwin Núñez did on arrival—only with sharper finishing.

Opinion

From a strategic standpoint, Osimhen feels like the transformative move that reasserts Liverpool among Europe’s elite, yet the economics of modern football may nudge Slot toward the more budget-friendly Giménez. Either way, breaking the cycle of over-reliance on Salah’s goals is non-negotiable. The sooner the Liverpool striker shortlist produces a signature, the better the Reds’ chances of pushing Manchester City all the way.