Liverpool Transfer News: Starting pistol FIRED for colossal striker race | OneFootball

Liverpool are after a striker this summer but have had to bide their time. Things appear to have finally kicked off, however.

Liverpool want to sign a striker this summer. Arne Slot just couldn't get what he wanted from the position last season, with his two first-choice options, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, struggling with consistency.

For completely different reasons, mind you. Nunez just isn't reliable whatsoever in front of goal and it's become completely clear that he'll never be that kind of striker. Not at Anfield, anyway.

Jota is reliable in front of goal - he's a wonderful finisher - but he just can't stay on the pitch. The Portugal star featured in around one third of Liverpool's Premier League minutes.

Luis Diaz was the makeshift centre-forward and while he was solid there, Liverpool don't want to consider him a primary option for the role going into next season. That's where signing someone comes into play.

Now, Alexander Isak is the dream. Liverpool have also looked at Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, and Victor Osimhen...

But everyone is looking at them. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United want to sign strikers this summer and the above options are reportedly on their shortlists, too.

Juventus are another linked with strikers, again complicating matters. Only, none of these clubs have actually completed deals for strikers and that's primarily because prices are so high.

No one wants to be the club to blink first and overpay. Price likely only drop when competition for strikers drops and that only happens when some transfers happen.

That, however, may actually be happening. Finally.

The striker fight starts

Sky Sports revealed on Sunday that both Chelsea and Newcastle United have bid for Joao Pedro. Brighton rejected both offers, however.

It signals the start of it all, with Chelsea on the brink of taking themselves out of the market for strikers if they do sign Pedro. Newcastle, on the other hand, would conceivably open the door to Isak moving on.

But wait, there's more! Fabrizio Romano then moved to confirm later this evening that Brighton have now accepted an offer from Chelsea for Pedro.

They'll pay more than £50m for the Brazilian and that now changes things. Chelsea are out of the push for Ekitike, who was seen as their most likely signing up top.

Liverpool might be the only club still in for the Frenchman, depending on United and Arsenal's moves. There's also no more Pedro for the Reds, even if we didn't see him as a top target this summer (as much as we rate him).

The effect on Newcastle is notable, too. They've failed to land another target here, having already seen an offer for Anthony Elanga rejected.

Do they need more money and PSR space? Because we know one way that can happen - and ultimately, it's the way Liverpool will hope this goes.

Let's see how things play out, then. We've been waiting for the starting pistol for the great striker race this summer and here it is.