Liverpool told to sign cult hero in January as Alexander Isak replacement | OneFootball

Isak setback tests Liverpool depth and fuels January transfer debate

Alexander Isak’s injury might just force Liverpool into an uncomfortable rethink as the January transfer window approaches. What looked like a carefully constructed attacking depth chart has been thrown into doubt, and Arne Slot now faces his first genuine selection crisis as Liverpool manager.

Isak setback reshapes Liverpool transfer thinking

Liverpool entered the season confident in their attacking options after committing close to £200m on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. It was a statement of intent, reinforcing a title-winning squad under Slot after the 2024-25 Premier League triumph. That sense of security has evaporated. Isak is expected to be sidelined for many months with a fractured fibula, leaving Liverpool significantly lighter in forward areas during a critical part of the campaign.

Photo: IMAGO

Ekitike remains the most natural replacement through the middle, while Florian Wirtz can drift in from the left and offer creativity between the lines. Federico Chiesa’s name has also surfaced among supporters, with calls for the Italy international to be trusted centrally and given sustained minutes. His energy and work rate off the bench have not gone unnoticed, and there is a growing feeling that his versatility could be tested further.

Starting XI dilemma under Arne Slot

Slot is running out of orthodox options as Liverpool head into the Christmas period. The squad balance now leans heavily on adaptability rather than depth, which naturally sharpens the focus on transfers. Internally, Liverpool will weigh whether to trust what they have or act decisively in January with a stop-gap solution.

For many supporters, the answer is emotional rather than tactical. The conversation has drifted away from profiles and data models, towards memory and meaning.

Origi nostalgia grips Anfield imagination

Liverpool fans want Divock Origi back. Few strikers in the modern era carry his emotional resonance at Anfield. He was never the most technically gifted forward to wear red, but his habit of delivering when it mattered most secured him cult status.

With Origi having agreed a contract termination with AC Milan, making him a free agent in January, the idea has gathered momentum online. One supporter simply wrote: “Bring him home,” before tagging Liverpool’s account, while another added: “Back to Anfield for one last dance?” A third wrote: “With Isak being injured it makes perfect sense to be honest, we need a stop gap striker to get us to the end of the season, and we’d be getting him for basically free.”

Reality check on Origi transfer return

Romance, however, rarely survives scrutiny. Origi has not featured for AC Milan since April 2024 and has been out of the squad entirely since the summer. Now 30, and lacking match fitness, expecting him to make an immediate impact in a title defence would be unrealistic.

Liverpool’s current recruitment structure under Slot is driven by sustainability and performance data. A nostalgic return, however popular, does not align with that strategy. As much as Origi remains a cherished figure, this particular transfer feels destined to stay in the realm of affectionate fantasy rather than serious planning.

Liverpool’s challenge now is balancing short-term necessity with long-term vision, while navigating life without Isak at the sharp end.