Report: Liverpool eyeing move to sign Premier League forward | OneFootball

Liverpool look beyond Semenyo as Kevin Schade enters transfer thinking

Liverpool’s pursuit of attacking reinforcements has taken another turn following confirmation that Antoine Semenyo will be heading to Manchester City. As Anfield Watch outline, this was a deal Liverpool clearly admired but ultimately could not land, prompting a familiar recalibration rather than panic. Under Arne Slot, recruitment remains measured, analytical and rooted in long term fit rather than short term noise.

As Anfield Watch note, “How keen and how serious the club’s interest was in comparison to Man City remains moot. We may never know how close Liverpool got to completing this deal, or just how far away they were from it.” That uncertainty defines much of modern Transfers, where even strong interest does not always translate into decisive movement.

Liverpool’s admiration for Semenyo was well established. “They clearly like Semenyo, and have been wanting to add a similar profile to him for a while.” With that profile still a priority, attention has turned to a player long tracked by Liverpool scouts.

Photo: IMAGO

Kevin Schade emerges from long term scouting

According to Anfield Watch, “The club has added Kevin Schade to their shortlist for the summer window. The German international has been followed by Liverpool scouts for over five years now and back when he started to emerge as an exciting youngster at Freiburg, the Reds did already consider making a move for him.” That line speaks volumes about Liverpool’s recruitment philosophy, patient, informed and rarely impulsive.

Jurgen Klopp’s admiration for Schade’s style is also noted in the report, although the eventual move never materialised due to valuation concerns. Schade instead joined Brentford, where he has steadily developed into a key Premier League performer. Now 24, he is approaching his peak years with tangible output to match his raw attributes.

Speed and pressing suit Slot’s Liverpool

Schade’s appeal lies not only in goals and assists but in traits that Liverpool currently lack in abundance. As Anfield Watch explain, “Predominantly a left-winger, Schade is very much of the Semenyo mould.” He is an inverted forward, capable centrally and across the line, offering tactical elasticity that Slot values highly.

His pace is striking. “During his first season in the league, Schade clocked in a top-speed of 36.37 km/h which was faster than the likes of Alphonso Davies and Erling Haaland in the Bundesliga.” That speed has translated to England, where “he has clocked in a top-speed of 34.8km/h for Brentford, which is the fastest for the club in the Premier League this season.”

Crucially, Schade runs beyond defences rather than always demanding the ball to feet. “Right now, Liverpool don’t really have this kind of profile.” With Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah preferring play in front of defensive lines, Schade would stretch opponents vertically and horizontally.

Photo: IMAGO

Summer strategy takes shape

Anfield Watch conclude that Schade offers “a new element and new dimension to Liverpool’s attack.” That assessment feels accurate. His pressing, channel running and positional flexibility align neatly with Slot’s emphasis on speed and intensity. Added to that, “for most of his career in the Bundesliga, he played as a right-winger so he can play across the front three.”

Liverpool rarely move without conviction. Schade’s presence on the shortlist suggests quiet groundwork already laid, positioning Liverpool well should summer opportunities arise.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Missing out on Semenyo hurts in the short term, but the idea that Liverpool already have alternatives like Kevin Schade under serious consideration speaks to continuity in recruitment.

Schade feels like a Slot player. Pace, pressing and positional intelligence are non negotiable under this regime, and the Brentford winger ticks those boxes. Fans have often called for more runners in behind, particularly against low blocks, and Schade’s speed profile directly addresses that gap.

There is also comfort in the timeline. Liverpool tracking him for over five years shows this is not opportunism but strategy. Supporters have seen how well that approach has worked with past Bundesliga imports. The concern, as ever, will be cost. Brentford sell hard and sell well.

Yet if Liverpool are serious about evolving the attack post title win, adding variety matters as much as adding goals. Schade might not arrive with fanfare, but he feels like the kind of signing that quietly raises the ceiling of the squad.