Darwin Nunez’s time at Liverpool is up, and it is clear who will replace him.
The Uruguayan has never really gotten going at Anfield. Despite the hoopla and enthusiasm surrounding his debut, he has proven to be a disappointment.
Under Arne Slot, he has likewise fallen out of favor. Despite Liverpool’s decision to keep him in January, it seems evident that Nunez will be permitted to depart during the summer transfer window.
Anfield Watch has disclosed that he is set to be one of the club’s high-profile departures this summer.
However, if he leaves, the question of who will replace him must be answered, which is a fascinating one given the large number of candidates.
One, however, simply sticks out from the crowd.
What will Arne Slot look for in his new No. 9?
First and foremost, while evaluating who Liverpool could sign, it is critical to identify Slot’s desired profile.
Slot prefers hard workers, players that cover a lot of ground and put in a lot of effort outside of possession.
He definitely appreciates goal-scoring forwards, but like Jurgen Klopp, he prefers them to be more hybrid and fluid in their movements rather than merely poachers.
In his press conference ahead of the Reds’ Carabao Cup match against Tottenham, Slot was asked about the type of attacker he prefers in his club, as well as whether he prefers a ‘facilitator’ over a goalscorer.
“I will be happy if that player becomes both,” Slot told me.
“‘Facilitator’ is a beautiful word; I didn’t know it before, and scoring goals himself is, once again, what we want to achieve in the end.
“But I also watched Cody [Gakpo]’s penalty (against Bournemouth), in which Lucho [Luis Diaz] played a role despite not touching the ball.
“He dragged the center-back out, putting Cody in a one-on-one situation, and he made a deep run before getting tripped.
“In the end, you want strikers and midfielders to score, and we’ve discussed our offensive midfielder as well.
“We need goals from a variety of positions, including centre-backs who can score from set pieces.
“So, that’s what I just said, we are trying to work on the training ground and with the feedback we give them after the game to make team better and better and better and in the end, the No. 9 should be a facilitator, like a winger, but a winger and a No. 9 should also score goals.”
This provides us an idea of the type of player Slot will be looking for. It’s a guy that will generate chances as well as score frequently, and who can drift out wide to allow his teammates to sprint into the box.
Why Hugo Ekitike’s figures prove he is the best pick
According to Bundesliga statistics, Ekitike has travelled 209 miles for Eintracht Frankfurt this season. He has run more than 11 kilometers every 90 minutes of play.
So the French striker instantly checks off a fundamental box. He is lots of energy and covers a lot of distance both on and off the field.
He’s incredibly swift and athletic. According to Bundesliga statistics, he is one of the top five forwards in terms of max speed (35.53 kilometers per hour).
That intensity would be ideal for Slot’s football, but there’s more to Ekitike’s statistics that show why he’s the best candidate.
First and foremost, he is a huge goal threat. He has the most shots in the Bundesliga (81) and the second greatest xG (16.2), trailing only Hary Kane (16.3), who leads the category.
So, it’s fair to assume Ekitike has completed the goal-scoring requirement. He has 18 goals in total across all competitions, and he will continue to score till the season ends.
It’s also necessary to consider the other aspect of Slot’s description. He made it plain that he does not want a striker who only scores goals. He wants a facilitator who can generate opportunities, drag out opposing attackers, and be more versatile.
Ekitike has proven himself capable of doing so in the first half of the season. When Omar Marmoush was on the team, Ekitike frequently drifted wide and played on the left flank.
His technical abilities, paired with his speed, indicate that he is more than capable of performing in that role. According to FBref, he averages 2.00 take-ons per 90 minutes across all competitions this season.
To put that into context, only Luis Diaz (2.11 per 90) has had more take-ons for Liverpool this season than Ekitike. Gakpo averages 1.64 and Salah averages 1.58 per 90 minutes.
So, in theory, Ekitike would fit Slot’s description of those runs out to the wing and provide a threat in that regard.
The creative numbers also bear up this claim. Ekitike is ranked among the top ten Bundesliga strikers in terms of predicted assists (3.6).
Ekitike’s 3.67 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in all competitions for Frankfurt would put him ahead of Alexander-Arnold (3.61) in the Liverpool squad.
Based on the numbers available, it’s difficult to dismiss Ekitike as the ideal candidate for Liverpool.
It has been stated that Frankfurt is willing to sell him for €80 million, which is a reasonable amount given the Reds’ desire to make more money from Nunez’s transfer.
Ekitike has been on Liverpool’s recruitment radar for quite some time. He was connected with the Reds when he first emerged at Reims, and the club is likely to be keeping an eye on his progress this season as well.
At 22 years old, the sky is the limit for him, and there is no doubt that he is the perfect candidate to replace Nunez.
