Nottingham Forest are in serious need of investment during the winter window to try and secure survival in the Premier League come the end of the campaign.

Sean Dyche’s men are just a smattering of points above the relegation zone, with a real need to improve the situation within the attacking third of the pitch.

The Reds have only scored just 21 times in the first 21 league outings of the campaign, the third-lowest in the division, with only 19th placed Burnley and 20th placed Wolves having scored fewer.

Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi are the two senior options currently at the manager’s disposal, with Chris Wood on the sidelines and Arnaud Kalimuendo set to leave on loan.

As a result, a new centre-forward will surely be on the cards this January, but completing deals during such a period is notoriously a tough challenge to navigate.

Nottingham Forest making a move to land a new centre-forward

Over the last couple of days, Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has emerged as a potential target for Forest this month, but they aren’t alone in their pursuit of his signature.

Newcastle United are just one of the other Premier League teams in the race for his signature, with Everton also closely monitoring the Norwegian’s progress.

However, any deal for the 25-year-old would likely be an expensive one, with Rob Edwards’ men currently demanding a fee in the region of £40m to offload their main striker.

He’s not the only option currently in the Reds’ sights at present, with Napoli talisman Lorenzo Lucca another option currently being considered by the hierarchy at present.

According to one Italian outlet, Dyche’s side are just one of a handful of European outfits currently considering a move for the 25-year-old who’s made 14 Serie A appearances this campaign.

The report states that he’s unhappy with his lack of starts under Antonio Conte, which has led to a £30m price tag being mooted for his signature this month.

Why Lucca would’ve a better signing than Strand Larsen

The interest over a deal for Strand Larsen has created intrigue at Forest, especially considering he currently plays for a team within the Premier League relegation zone.

In the 2025/26 campaign, the 25-year-old has only netted one goal, also struggling to find the form that would be needed to get his current side out of any relegation trouble.

However, he’s previously shown he can produce the levels needed in England’s top-flight, as seen by his impressive tally of 14 goals in his 35 appearances last time around.

£40m for a player of his inconsistent nature would be a huge gamble from the ownership, especially when such a deal would break the club’s record transfer.

As a result, a move for Lucca could prove to make more sense, with the striker’s 6’7 frame potentially being the perfect fit for Dyche’s long-ball system in place at the City Ground.

Like Strand Larsen, he’s also only netted one league goal this campaign, but it’s his underlying figures that would make him a better addition during the coming weeks.

When comparing such stats, he’s massively outperformed the Wolves star in various key areas, showcasing why he would be a more suitable signing.

Lucca, who’s been dubbed one of “the best forwards” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has posted a better shot on target accuracy rate in front of goal this season.

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Whilst he’s scored the same number of goals as Strand Larsen, such numbers showcase that he’s more threatening and has more of a nouse to get the ball in trouble areas in the final third.

How Lucca & Strand Larsen compare in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Lucca

Strand Larsen

Games played

14

18

Goals scored

1

1

Shot on target accuracy

39%

29%

Pass accuracy

80%

63%

Key passes

0.8

0.3

Take-on success

67%

38%

Carries into opposition box

0.9

0.2

Aerials won

47%

41%

Fouls won

2.7

0.7

Stats via FBref

Away from his goalscoring exploits, he’s also dominated with his all-round play, as seen by his higher tally of passes completed, with more of which being defined as key passes.

He’s also completed more take-ons and achieved a higher tally of carries into the opposition penalty area, showcasing his ability to create chances out of nothing.

His aerial ability is another important bonus to his game, with the Italian winning more aerial battles and drawing more fouls than Strand Larsen this campaign.

Whilst neither player possesses a hugely clinical skillset, it’s evident that Lucca would be a phenomenal addition and one that could offer Dyche a new dimension.

His height and physicality is something which the Reds have lacked so far this campaign, with such a move handing the side an added boost in their hunt for survival.

Related Dream Kalimuendo replacement: Nottingham Forest open talks to sign £40m star

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Posts ByEthan Lamb

One of several Glasgow Rangers players who seems to have improved with each passing week at Ibrox is Tottenham Hotspur loanee Mikey Moore.

The 18-year-old attacker started for the eighth time in the Scottish Premiership on Tuesday night against St Mirren, and had three shots on goal and created one chance, per Sofascore.

Moore has scored two goals and provided one assist in his eight league starts for the Gers, with both goals coming under Danny Rohl’s management.

There are more gears for the teenage talent to reach, though, as he keeps improving and getting used to playing for Rangers before his return to Spurs in the summer.

Rangers hopeful of signing new left-back

Something that could help Moore to hit new levels in a Gers shirt could be signing a new partner for him to play alongside down the left, which appears to be on the agenda at Ibrox.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to TEAMtalk, Glasgow Rangers are hopeful of securing a deal to sign Westerlo left-back Tuur Rommens in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Gers have an advanced interest in the Belgian defender and are making an effort to bring him to Ibrox in the coming weeks.

It states that the Belgium U21 international is a ‘prime target’ for the Scottish giants, who believe that he can be the long-term solution to their problems at left-back.

Currently worth £4m, as per Football Transfers expected transfer value model, it wouldn’t be the cheapest of deals to complete.

Jayden Meghoma, who is on loan from Brentford, is currently the only natural left-back in the squad after former sporting director Kevin Thelwell decided to sell both Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz in the summer transfer window.

Why Rangers should sign Tuur Rommens

The Gers should push to get this deal over the line in the coming days because he could come through the door at Ibrox as an upgrade on Meghoma, which could allow Moore to play with more freedom down the flank.

A goal and two assists from the Brentford loanee in the last six Premiership matches shows that he can offer a decent threat at the top end of the pitch, but there are still question marks over his defensive quality.

He was notably slammed for his defensive performance against Motherwell. Simply, it was far too easy for the opponents to get in behind the youngster.

Per Sofascore, the English defender has lost a staggering 81% of his aerial duels in the Premiership so far this season, which shows that there is a clear weakness in his game defensively, which places even more of an emphasis on Moore getting back to help him.

Rommens, who writer Kai Watson claimed is “improving” every year, appears to have the quality in and out of possession to offer more for Rangers in the left-back position if they are able to get a deal done for their ‘prime target’.

25/26 season

Rommens

Meghoma

Appearances

15

16

Key passes per game

1.3

0.7

Big chances created

6

3

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.4

2.8

Ground duel success rate

62%

62%

Aerial duels won per game

2.5

0.4

Aerial duel success rate

67%

19%

Error led to shot

1

2

Stats via Sofascore

The statistics in the table above suggest that the 22-year-old star is significantly better than Meghoma in the air. It is not even remotely close when you compare their respective success rates in aerial duels.

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They also suggest that he could offer far more than the Englishman as a creator of goals, with almost twice as many key passes per game and twice as many ‘big chances’ created.

Rommens has a sweet left foot, as shown in the clip above, and his superior creativity in comparison to Meghoma could force defenders to pay more attention to him than they currently do to the Brentford loanee, giving Moore even more space to work with.

As a right-footed attacker who likes to drift infield to make things happen, having a quality attacking left-back like Rommens could be the dream for him, as they could strike up an impressive partnership.

On top of that, the Belgian star’s defensive attributes suggest that he does not need as much help from his winger in defensive situations, which could allow Moore to stay higher up the pitch at times to focus more on making things happen in the final third.

Related Rohl could ruthlessly sell Cameron in Rangers move for £5m "sensation"

Danny Rohl could cash in on Lyall Cameron with a Rangers swoop for this star in the January transfer window.

Posts ByDan Emery

Therefore, Rommens could be an excellent signing for Rangers both because he could improve the team immediately as an upgrade on Meghoma, whilst he could also help Moore to reach the next stage in his development on the left wing.

After fracturing his ankle in pre-season, Celtic winger Karamoko Dembele finally appears as if he is ready to mount a charge on securing a regular place in Ange Postecoglou’s first-team squad.Indeed, the 19-year-old winger – who is incredibly highly rated by both those at Parkhead and in the wider footballing world – is yet to play a competitive fixture under the 56-year-old Bhoys boss, although the England U18 international was included in the Greek-Australian manager’s matchday squad in the 3-1 Europa Conference League defeat against Bodo/Glimt last week.However, after once again featuring for Celtic’s B team in a 3-3 draw with Queens ParkÂon Tuesday, the £225k-rated winger looks to be building up his match fitness ahead of a potential return to first-team action in the coming weeks.Although, while it is true that Dembele did get himself on the scoresheet in the Glasgow Cup fixture, it was undoubtedly the performance of the player who replaced the 19-year-old, Tsoanelo Letsosa, that most caught the eye against the Scottish League One side earlier this week.

The next Dembele?

There already appears to be a great deal of excitement about the future of Letsosa, with Kolo Toure reportedly having urged Brendan Rodgers to sign the 17-year-old for Leicester City, while no less than 60 scouts were believed to have been impressed with the winger after staring for Scotland U16s in the Victory Shield back in 2019.

And, considering the impact Letsosa had after being brought on against Queens Park on Tuesday, it is not difficult to see why a number of top clubs have been keeping a close eye on the teenager.

Indeed, with Tommy McIntyre’s side trailing 3-2 in the 89th minute of the Cup tie, Letsosa receives the ball on the right-hand side of the opposition penalty area, sells an onrushing defender with a deft dummy before unleashing a thunderous drive into the far top corner to draw his team level – as can be seen below:

As such, should the youngster who Kick Off Magazine dubbed a “wonderkid” be able to keep up this form over the remainder of the season, the 17-year-old could very much become Celtic’s next Dembele.

Perhaps he could even overtake the 19-year-old in Postecoglou’s first-team pecking order – all that is required is for the 56-year-old manager to take a chance on the Scotland youth international.

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In other news: Ange must learn from his mistake and unleash “outrageous” Celtic dynamo vs Bodo/Glimt

Celtic may well be without Giorgos Giakoumakis for this evening’s clash with St Mirren.

The Lowdown: Still no Turnbull or Furuhashi

Ange Postecoglou is already without key attacking players in David Turnbull and Kyogo Furuhashi due to hamstring problems, with the pair last seen prior to the winter break.

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Giakoumakis, who scored a hat-trick against Dundee last month, was absent from the draw with Hibernian on Sunday as the Hoops failed to break down Shaun Maloney’s side.

Daizen Maeda was the only centre-forward to make the trip to Easter Road and had an afternoon to forget, and it seems that could be the same this evening at Parkhead.

The Latest: GG 50/50

@PodTims relayed Postecoglou’s comments from his pre-match press conference on Tuesday on Twitter.

When it came to Giakoumakis, he is thought to be ‘50/50’ after an illness over the weekend, with Sky Sports believing he could miss out.

The Verdict: A blow

With Turnbull and Furuhashi showing no signs of an imminent return, being without Giakoumakis for another game isn’t ideal for Postecoglou.

Labelled as ‘class’ by teammate Josip Juranovic, the Dutch striker appeared to be finding his feet with four goals in two games against Raith Rovers and Dundee.

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Postecoglou may well have to rely on Maeda once again when it comes to leading the line, but hopefully, the Hoops will be able to score for the first time since Giakoumakis’ late winner against Dundee.

In other news: Ange can finally fix big Lennon blunder as Celtic now hold talks for ‘dangerous’ star – opinion. 

Wolves could be set for a busy summer transfer window in terms of moving some of their players around that are currently either out on loan or have their contracts running out at the end of the season.

Looking ahead to this period, it seems as though the Old Gold could be in luck when it comes to the future of one of their key players currently in Bruno Lage’s squad.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke had this to say about the future of Wolves defender Romain Saiss, whose current contract at Molineux is set to expire in the summer.

He said: “I know Saiss has had interest from other clubs all across Europe and outside of Europe as well.

“But I think he wants to stay playing at the highest level and the Premier League is probably the best league to be playing in right now, so that boosts Wolves’ chances of keeping him.”

Supporters buzzing

Since arriving at the Midlands club back in the 2016 summer transfer window from French club Angers, the defender has racked up a total of 202 appearances across all competitions, scoring 15 goals and providing three assists along the way.

This season has seen the 31-year-old show how pivotal he is for the Midlands club by starting 27 of their 29 Premier League games as well as racking up more blocks (51), interceptions (69) and clearances (158) than any other Wolves player in 2021/22.

In addition to his impressive defensive capabilities, the Moroccan has also managed to earn himself a solid overall season rating of 6.99, making him the joint-third highest rated player at the club to have started more than two league games in this campaign according to WhoScored.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to suggest that the Wolves fans would be delighted if the defender chose to put pen to paper on a new deal at the club and continued his journey with them, rather than join a club like Sevilla, who have been linked with him previously.

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With O’Rourke now suggesting that Wolves’ status in the Premier League could keep Saiss at Molineux for the foreseeable future, they should definitely offer the centre-back a new deal to keep him out of the clutches of any other club that would almost certainly benefit from having him in their side.

In other news: Fosun must surely regret huge Wolves howler over £67.5m-rated title-winning “rock”

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Djed Spence to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Sky Sports Germany, who claim that Tottenham, alongside the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig – in addition to a further five Premier League clubs and two LaLiga sides – are keeping a very close eye on the Middlesbrough right-back ahead of a potential move at the end of the season.

However, the report goes on to state that Bayern’s representatives have already been in contact with the defender regarding a potential summer switch, with further talks between the two parties expected to take place at the end of the month.

Tottenham’s next Walker

Considering just how impressive Spence has been while on loan at Nottingham Forest this season, it is not difficult to understand why Spurs, as well as a host of Europe’s biggest clubs, are reported to be interested in a move for the 21-year-old this summer.

Indeed, over his 27 Championship appearances for Forest this term, the £2.25m-rated right-back has been in fantastic form, scoring one goal, registering two assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as completing an average of 1.8 dribbles, making 0.8 key passes and taking 0.7 shots per game.

The £4.4k-per-week defender has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.4 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 1.2 clearances, completing 38.6 passes and winning 5.8 duels per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who Wes Morgan dubbed both a “constant threat” and “outstanding” average a highly impressive WhoScored match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Nottingham Forest’s fourth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, considering his attacking inclination, defensive solidity and his abundance of pace – with Sky Germany claiming that the youngster is “not much slower” than Alphonso Davies – it is easy to draw comparisons between the traits of Spence and a player who has arguably been one of the best right-backs the Premier League has ever seen – £53m Kyle Walker.

Indeed, during the £150k-per-week England international’s spell in north London, the 31-year-old scored four goals and registered 20 assists for Spurs, consistently providing a threat with this considerable pace down Tottenham’s right flank.

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So, it would indeed appear highly advisable for Antonio Conte to do everything in his power to get a deal over the line for Spence this summer, as the youngster could very well prove to be the club’s next Walker.

In other news: Paratici must launch Spurs offer for £25m “machine” as update emerges, Conte needs him

Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League last night in a tight game against Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford, meaning that the side are now unable to win a single trophy this season.

The Red Devils have now been knocked out of the FA Cup, the Champions League and are currently 20 points behind their next door neighbours, Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, making it virtually impossible for the side to win the league this season.

Not even the advantage of being in front of their home fans could save Ralf Rangnick’s side from conceding defeat against Atletico, despite having a lot more more possession of the ball (60%) and more shots on target over the course of the game.

The blame lies in a poor performance from many individuals in the team who failed to step up in the season-defining game for Manchester United.

One player who failed to deliver on expectations was Bruno Fernandes, who was reintroduced into the team following his absence in the victory over Spurs through illness last weekend, and Rangnick clearly made a mistake going against his winning midfield from their previous encounter by starting the Portuguese player in the team last night.

According to SofaScore, Fernandes gave very little to his team during his 67 minute performance last night with no interceptions and no tackles as he lost 100% of his duels.

He was also unsuccessful in 100% of his dribbles, lost possession of the ball every 2 touches and was dribbled past once by an opponent.

The £100k-per-week dud was eventually benched to be replaced by French midfielder Paul Pogba in the second half.

However, it was too little too late for the German coach and his team, as they crashed out of the European competition, which means that superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo will go trophy-less for the first time in over a decade.

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The interim Manchester United boss will now have full focus on securing another chance in the Champions League next season for the club by securing a top-four spot in a tight race with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

They are currently fifth in the Premier League just one point behind the Gunners who have three games in hand on their competitors, so there will be no doubt there is still a huge challenge ahead for Rangnick and his team.

In other news: “Understand..” – Journo drops behind-scenes CR7 update, MUFC supporters surely fuming – opinion

Former Scotland defender Alan Hutton has made a claim on Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Kyogo returns to training

The 27-year-old has been out of action since December due to a hamstring problem but has recently been spotted back on the grass at Lennoxtown.

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He was seen in the background of a training video with a ball at his feet and there is hope that he could make a return to action against Rangers following the current international break, leading to much excitement from some in the media.

The Latest: Hutton’s comments on Kyogo

Hutton, who contributes as a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live, was talking to Football Insider regarding Furuhashi’s impending return and what that will means for Ange Postecoglou and Celtic.

The 36-year-old believes that it will be ‘really difficult’ for the Hoops boss to decide who to omit, having backed the Japan international to come back in once fully fit, saying:

“It’s a really difficult one for Postecoglou.

“He’s got all these attackers doing well. Maeda, Jota, Giakoumakis, Abada – they’re all flying.

“It’s a tough side to break into. But I’m pretty sure that once he’s fully fit, he will break back in and find a place in that side.

“Whether he has to tweak the formation or someone has to sit out – I just think from what I’ve seen so far, Kyogo is a cut above the rest.

“With the options they’ve got at the moment they can afford to feed him in slowly and take their time, but when he’s fully fit – he has to play.”

The Verdict: Options

Furuhashi will more than likely take a while to get back up to speed in green and white, but having multiple options in attack could be vital for Postecoglou in the final games of the season.

The 27-year-old is still Celtic’s top scorer despite missing several months of action, so having Furuhashi on the bench over the coming weeks will be a massive boost for the Hoops.

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Postecoglou likes to switch things up anyway, so even when the Japanese star is fully fit, the likes of Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda should still get plenty of game-time.

In other news: Sources close to Celtic drop positive Karamoko Dembele update as contract deadline looms

Newcastle United lost their third successive Premier League match on Sunday as they were hammered 5-1 by Tottenham away from home.

The Magpies failed to capitalise on their lead in the first half as Fabian Schar’s free-kick found a way past Hugo Lloris and into the bottom corner.

Ben Davies soon equalised for the hosts with a flicked header, before goals from Heung-Min Son, Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Steven Bergwijn sealed a fantastic win for Antonio Conte’s men.

A number of players failed to showcase the best of their talents in the drubbing and one man who struggled badly was centre-forward Chris Wood.

The attacker, who scored five goals in four games for his country over the break, has not been able to hit his best form since making the switch to St. James’ Park in January. He has scored once in 11 Premier League matches for the Toon since the club paid £25m to sign him from relegation rivals Burnley in the winter window.

Frank McAvennie said earlier this year that the New Zealand international is “struggling” and his performance against Spurs was in line with that comment. He caught the eye in the wrong way as it was noticeable how anonymous he was throughout the match at the top end of the pitch.

Off the ball, he did very little. As per SofaScore, he did not win a single ground duel and failed to make any clearances, tackles, interceptions or blocks. This shows that he did not successfully press from the front to force Tottenham players into making mistakes, putting more pressure on the Magpies defence as their striker was not leading the defensive effort.

In possession, he was useless. As per SofaScore, he only completed six passes in his 70 minutes on the field, completing 60% of his attempts to find a teammate. He had one shot, that was off target, and did not complete any dribbles, key passes, long balls or crosses as he lost the ball six times from 15 touches.

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This shows that he offered nothing to the team as an offensive threat. He did not make himself enough of a nuisance to the opposition defence and failed to get himself involved in the game. Instead of forcing the issue and trying to impose himself on Spurs, he struggled to get a touch of the ball.

The Magpies flop had fewer touches (15) than Martin Dubravka (38) and Howe will surely be hoping for more involvement from his number nine, irrespective of how the match went. It was a disappointing showing and his struggles continue…

AND in other news, PIF set to “lead the race” to sign forward for NUFC who will be a “joy to watch”…

Liverpool have fallen off a proverbial cliff this season, but Arne Slot’s subtle tactical tweaks over the past several weeks have steadied the ship, with Liverpool unbeaten in four in the Premier League and with a win at San Siro over Inter Milan secured in the Champions League.

However, the Premier League champions still need to raise their levels if they are to put to bed fears of missing out on a top-four (or five) finish, as well as competing out on the continent and in the FA Cup.

And with Mohamed Salah now off with Egypt at the African Cup of Nations, it’s time for Alexander Isak to step up and help steer his new side back into the ascendancy.

Isak, 26, joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a British-record £125m move at the end of the summer transfer window, but he has struggled to click into gear.

Why Alexander Isak is struggling at Liverpool

When Isak completed his transfer to Liverpool, his reputation preceded him. Now under Slot’s wing was a striker whose exploits led Newcastle United to Champions League qualification twice in three Premier League seasons, and it was his goal against Liverpool at Wembley that sealed the Carabao Cup title last year.

He scored 27 goals in all competitions last year, and his movement and intelligence in the final third marry up with devastating shooting skills to fashion a talisman fit for a starring role at any of Europe’s finest outfits.

But this hasn’t been the case for the Anfield side. The data makes for somewhat painful viewing, with Isak clearly punching well below his weight class of last season.

Alexander Isak – Past Two Prem Campaigns

Stats (per 90)

24/25

25/26

Goals scored

0.75

0.18

Assists

0.20

0.18

Touches

33.47

22.59

Shots taken

3.10

2.57

Pass completion (%)

75.3

65.2

Progressive passes

2.87

1.47

Progressive carries

2.71

0.92

Shot-creating actions

3.00

0.92

Successful take-ons

1.37

0.18

Ball recoveries

1.80

1.84

Tackles

0.39

1.10

Data via FBref

The Sweden international’s very name struck fear into defenders across England last year, with pundit Jamie Carragher even anointing him “the best striker in the Premier League right now” during his destructive purple patch last winter.

But he’s been dismal since moving to Liverpool, one goal in the Premier League and none in the Champions League. Circumstances matter, but Isak’s form is a big concern, especially with Hugo Ekitike firing on all cylinders are joining the club from Eintracht Frankfurt in July.

As Slot said: “We signed him for six years, not six months.” Even so, Isak needs to improve, especially when the Reds have an up-and-coming youngster who has the potential to go right to the top as a free-scoring number nine.

The Liverpool teen who could steal Isak's shirt

When Isak joined Liverpool and put on that number nine shirt, it was universally accepted that he would swiftly assert himself as a powerhouse in the Premier League and out in Europe too.

But Isak has flattered to deceive, and Keyrol Figueroa may fancy his chances of ruffling a few feathers down the line, perhaps convincing the powers that be that they don’t need to sign another striker any time soon, instead investing their faith in the academy.

Figueroa, 19, has been hailed as a “lethal, ruthless number nine” by Liverpool U21 manager Rob Page, who has been in awe of the USMNT youth international’s destructive start to life in the Reds’ side’s underbelly.

This season, the powerful young forward, son of former Premier League star Maynor Figueroa, has scored seven goals from only nine matches in the Premier League 2, just five of which came from the starting whistle.

Subscribe for expert Isak and Liverpool tactical insight Gain deeper Liverpool coverage: subscribe to our newsletter for clear analysis of Isak’s struggles, Figueroa’s emergence, and Arne Slot’s tactical tweaks. Receive expert context and data-driven breakdowns focused on player form and tactical shifts. Subscribe Subscribe for expert Isak and Liverpool tactical insight Gain deeper Liverpool coverage: subscribe to our newsletter for clear analysis of Isak’s struggles, Figueroa’s emergence, and Arne Slot’s tactical tweaks. Receive expert context and data-driven breakdowns focused on player form and tactical shifts.

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He made the bench during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield, and it is only a matter of time before he makes his bow for Slot’s seniors.

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Strength and pace are key facets of Figueroa’s game. Recognised from the off for possessing something a bit different, the American prospect may well rival Isak down the line, if he retains and develops those central attributes and guides them toward something that can withstand the harsh climate of the Premier League.

Should Isak be worried? Not yet. As Slot stressed, Liverpool are ready to play the long game when it comes to their record purchase.

But Isak will have to deliver at some stage, and perhaps by then, Figueroa will have finished building the blocks and will be ready to take the professional stage.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair