Liverpool Transfer News: Slot eyeing CL winner as temporary Isak successor

Liverpool have reportedly identified an adequate replacement for Alexander Isak amid the striker’s injury layoff.

The Swede hobbled off just after scoring in their 2-1 win over Spurs last weekend, only for scans to reveal he had broken his leg following a challenge from Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven.

This leaves Liverpool considerably light up top, with Hugo Ekitike as the only senior centre-forward, Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Federico Chiesa – yet to start in the Premier League or Champions League this term – less than favoured by Arne Slot.

Slot must now make a decision as to whether he should fix the Reds’ striker woes from within or look to the transfer market, which opens in less than a week.

And according to reports, Liverpool have shortlisted some attacking talent – with one standing out as a perfect stand-in for the stricken Isak.

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are considering a move for PSG striker Goncalo Ramos, who they view as a short-term solution to Isak’s injury woes.

The report also namechecks Ivan Toney and Dusan Vlahovic as possible attacking targets, though they are seen as longer-term options by the powers that be at Anfield.

Rodrygo and Bradley Barcola were also mentioned, though neither are conventional No 9s.

Ramos has been largely a bit-part player for the French and European champions, having started just eight Ligue 1 games all season, scoring nine times across 23 appearances in all competitions.

His lack of game time is surely what makes him a viable, and perhaps realistic, option in Liverpool’s eyes, with Ramos’ minutes barely an improvement on last year, albeit with the Portugal ace having spent time out with a long-term ankle injury in late 2024.

Despite this, you would wonder if his game time would substantially improve if the Reds were to make a move, with Ekitike clearly the first-choice striker on Merseyside at present – only Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago have scored more often in the Premier League.

However, Ramos’ goal record suggests he does make the most of his opportunities. He currently has a better goals-per-minute rate compared to Isak, while he reached double figures in the league last term despite only amassing 12 starts.

His on-pitch impact is also telling – he is yet to lose while scoring for Les Parisiens or Portugal since the start of last season, with PSG on the winning side every time he has bagged, save for one draw against Strasbourg in October (and their shootout win over Spurs in the Super Cup final).

Therefore, it is easy to see why Liverpool are such strong admirers. Whether they can convince PSG to make a deal in January remains to be seen, but with a World Cup in the summer, Ramos may well be wise to consider a mid-season switch to Anfield.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.