Arne Slot hands LAST chance to Liverpool star | OneFootball

Liverpool are set to go through a period of change this summer.

So far Arne Slot has been working with Jurgen Klopp's players and only really making tactical changes to the system that the German had been using. We're yet to see a Slot-built team.

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Of course, that isn't to say that all of the current Liverpool players will be replaced, nor will the system change too radically, but transfer moves will be made to help enhance the options available.

For example, the left-back and right-back options have proved beyond all reasonable doubt that recruitment is necessary, so Jeremie Frimpong and likely Milos Kerkez will join Andy Robertson and Conor Bradley in the club's full-back ranks.

Furthermore, it has become apparent that a new creative midfielder is on the Reds' shopping list, with Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki leading the transfer rumours. While the Frenchman is available for a bargain price, the German is set to cost around £100m, taking up plenty of the transfer budget.

As such, Slot's lineup change for the team's trip to Brighton on Monday night might actually be a hint that striker is no long a priority, with the Dutchman looking at other ways to replace Darwin Nunez.

Federico Chiesa to become the Reds' new striker?

That's right. The Italian winger was finally gifted an opportunity to play and as instructed by Slot he spent most of his time playing as a centre-forward while Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah commanded the wings.

It made for an incredibly flexible front three as the trio were able to drift into different positions, creating a wave of confusion for Brighton's defensive line, and it worked a treat.

Diogo Jota was absent from the squad completely and Nunez was left to spend his evening on the sidelines - likely because of the extra add-ons Liverpool would have to pay Benfica if he plays any more minutes.

But even then, you would ordinarily expect any hybrid centre-forward plan to involve Luis Diaz, who was also left on the bench in favour of the Italian, so it's clear what the intention was.

So while many people might be expecting Chiesa to potentially leave after just one season on Merseyside, there is a willingness to experiment and find ways for the 27-year-old to succeed.

Fitness issues plagued Chiesa for most of the first half of the season, but his lack of minutes despite being physically available have been because Slot simply hasn't fancied him.

In fairness, his natural position is where Salah normally resides at right-wing, so displacing the Egyptian was always going to be nigh-on impossible given his record-breaking form.

But given the Italian is contracted until 2028, it makes sense to find a way for him to have an impact.

Jota and Nunez's participation in the last two games is likely to be limited, as discussed earlier, so new striker options are to be expected next season, which someone new likely being brought in.

However, a transfer for Wirtz might make that intention difficult to deliver upon. There are cheap strikers available such as Jonathan David from Lille or Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, and Cherki could be a cheap attacking midfield alternative to Wirtz for Liverpool to consider.

But if the interest in the German is serious - which it seems to be - then any alternative forward options in the Reds' squad that aren't being utilised could be transitioned into makeshift strikers, just like Ryan Gravenberch was turned into a No. 6 this season when he was traditionally seen as a No. 8.

Of course, the club's transfer business is likely still being organised by the recruitment team, as the window doesn't open for another two weeks, but Chiesa could help save some money this summer.