With the summer transfer window rapidly approaching, Liverpool's intended strategy will undoubtedly become more apparent. Despite their £450million expenditure last year, more investment might be necessary at the season's end to guide the club back towards competing for the most prestigious trophies.
A disappointing defence of their Premier League title and extremely challenging encounters against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in the FA Cup and Champions League means there's a genuine possibility the Reds conclude the campaign empty-handed.
Defence has been a considerable vulnerability for Arne Slot's team this season, but the Dutchman has now been advised to focus elsewhere concerning one rumoured target. We also examine what a Bayern Munich official has been commenting about Alexander Isak.
Liverpool's reported interest in Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has been widely discussed. But it's a transfer the Premier League heavyweights should reconsider, according to former Reds striker Dean Saunders, reports the Mirror.
Saunders suggested the Spurs defender's tendency of relying on his pace to escape hazardous situations means he cannot be categorised amongst the world's elite who wouldn't find themselves in those positions to begin with.
Micky van de Ven has had a tough season
The former Wales striker told aceodds.com: "When speaking about Micky van de Ven, he is lightning quick, but I have played against defenders like him. I have played against the quickest centre-backs in the world, but it was never a problem for me. Being a top defender is all about your brain.
"It doesn't matter being quick if you don't have the brain. It helps you recover from mistakes, but you shouldn't make those mistakes to start. I want to bring in Man United's former centre half pairing as an example. When Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic played, Ferdinand always came off the pitch with no mud on his shorts."
The 61-year-old questioned whether the Dutchman possesses the game intelligence required at elite level, adding: "Ferdinand would read the situation and get there before the striker, and I am just not sure if Van de Ven's football brain is that good and if he can read the game.
"At this level, everything is about speed of thought. How can I get the ball before Erling Haaland? His brain is fantastic, and I just don't see it with Van de Ven. Ferdinand used to get the ball before me and other defenders were running after me. I am really not sure about Van de Ven and his brain."
It has been a torrid season for Alexander Isak, who has had to battle through fitness and form concerns before sustaining a broken fibula in December, and has yet to feature again. Having managed just three goals in 16 appearances since his £125million switch, the Swede has much to prove.
Last year, the 26-year-old was beginning to feature in discussions surrounding the finest strikers in Europe, alongside the likes of Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane at the very pinnacle of that conversation. Since then, it is the England captain who has seized that crown with an extraordinary 48 goals in just 40 matches this season.
Kane's outstanding form since his move to Bayern Munich, coupled with Isak's difficult debut campaign on Merseyside, has prompted Bayern's honorary president Uli Hoeness to take a dig at the reigning Premier League champions. Speaking to kicker, the executive remarked: "Liverpool's Alexander Isak cost €150 million. If he's worth €150 million, then Harry's worth €250 million."
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