Slot's answer to Coutinho: Liverpool frontrunners to sign £50m "magician"

When the Premier League campaign kicked off, most watching Arne Slot away from a Liverpool prism harboured major doubts that he would be able to pick up where Jurgen Klopp left off.

It was the undoable task, the insurmountable obstacle, taking a long-held dynasty to another level. Both Arsenal and Manchester United slumped after their historic managers departed, but Liverpool have bucked the trend and then some.

Most harboured doubts, but Slot and his squad beavered away and built atop the firm foundations Klopp left. Now they are Premier League champions, and dominant winners at that.

Liverpool are now ahead, but they aren’t going to quit, rather build on Klopp’s crafted squad and go again next season. Attacking additions feel the most necessary, with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa all reportedly at risk of being sold this summer.

However, the Reds will know that strengthening in the offensive third is something which could be achieved through different routes, and challenging Dominik Szoboszlai for a higher output is one of them.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai needs competition

Szoboszlai is the first Hungarian to win the Premier League, with his running power and energy so important to a Liverpool team that relies on transitions and overwhelming opponents.

However, in spite of his brace of assists as the title was clinched against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, he’s only posted 14 goals and 13 assists across 90 Liverpool appearances.

Liverpool need a more prolific attacking midfielder. That could be Szoboszlai, but he needs to up the ante in front of goal, perhaps taking a leaf from Philippe Coutinho’s book.

Coutinho was the harbinger of a new era of success at Anfield, the shining light during those few dreary post-Luis Suarez years before signing for Barcelona in January 2018 in a £142m deal. It sparked new levels of success, but Liverpool did lose an incredible attacking midfielder.

Coutinho was playing like a man possessed during that half-season, playing, admittedly, like a footballer hoping to transfer to Barcelona. In any case, he staked his claim as one of the Premier League’s most iconic playmakers.

There’s no doubt that Slot has taken Szoboszlai’s game to the next level, but it needs to rise higher still if he’s to solidify his status as a superstar at Liverpool.

Maybe he needs some fresh competition in attacking midfield, a Coutinho-esque player who could add that X-factor to the ranks. FSG appear to be keen on following that train of thought.

Liverpool chasing Premier League star

As per Football Insider, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is ready to reject a move to Manchester United in favour of a move to either Liverpool or Arsenal this summer.

The 26-year-old doesn’t feel that a move to Old Trafford, which Gary Neville recently called a “graveyard for players and coaches,” would be in the best interest of his career trajectory.

Valued at £50m, Eze would mark a significant outlay and FSG have some doubts regarding his consistency in front of goal, but Slot’s coaching acumen would be sure to take the England international’s game to the next level.

Why Eberechi Eze could be perfect for Slot

While the right-footed Eze’s fleet-footedness lends itself to a place on the left flank, he’s played plenty of football in a more central berth under Oliver Glasner and could be utilised across two areas at Liverpool.

Slot, shrewd tactical mind that he is, would be sure to raise Eze’s game to the next level, having proved himself across a number of years as one of the Premier League’s finest.

Fulham manager Marco Silva even waxed lyrical about the player’s quality earlier in the season, saying: “Everyone who loves football should enjoy seeing Eze on the pitch.”

He’s certainly backed up that praise with high-level performances in the Eagles regime, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 8% for ball recoveries and the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90.

This effectively underscores the creativity and athletic approach that Eze brings to the table. It’s a blend which could even see the talent become Liverpool’s next version of Coutinho.

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The Palace man is certainly capable of producing show-stopping moments, rifling a stunning strike past Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez last weekend to send his side to the FA Cup final, where Manchester City now await.

Respected journalist Henry Winter hailed the midfielder for his “magnificent goal and display,” proving to the world that he has that fizzling quality which could see him slot right into Liverpool’s system as the new version of Coutinho.

Of course, Eze has also been described as a “magician” by pundit Micah Richards in the past, with that unique take on the game to remind Liverpool fans of the thrill of having such a silky attacking midfielder in their mix.

Like Coutinho back in his Liverpool heyday, Eze is also willing to get stuck in, averaging 1.2 tackles and winning five successful duels per Premier League fixture, as per Sofascore, something, if you refer back to the table from earlier, Coutinho excelled at.

With ten big chances created across 28 top-flight starts this term too, Liverpool truly could get their hands on one of the most exciting players below the top rung of the divisional ladder.

His playmaking skill could be doubly important given Liverpool are set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer, but whichever way you swing it, Eze is an exciting talent capable of seat-raising stuff, just like Coutinho.

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