Liverpool's search for a replacement for Sadio Mane has begun. The seasoned Reds forward toying with the prospect of joining Bayern Munich this summer, meaning a new forward from elsewhere will have to fill the void at Anfield.
Darwin Nunez has been tipped as Jurgen Klopp's top target. There is interest in the Benfica attacker according to reports, who is regarded as a player who fits the desired profile of the recruitment team on Merseyside.
Price could be a problem for Liverpool, who are unwilling to pay extortionate amounts to land the Uruguayan striker. If a transfer move fails to transpire, who could the Reds target instead?
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Raphinha (Leeds United)
Raphinha has been tipped for a move to Anfield this season and based on his showings at Elland Road, those links make plenty of sense. The Brazilian is intense, fast, direct and difficult to defend against.
Aged 25, he meets Liverpool's typical criteria and after surviving relegation from the Premier League on the final day this season, it is reasonable to suggest that he's ready to step up towards Europe's elite.
Raphinha was a primary reason as to why Leeds managed to avoid the drop, scoring 11 goals while registering three assists. He's also left-footed unlike any other Reds forward, except for Mohamed Salah who could be due to leave next summer.
Salah's occupancy of Raphinha's favoured position at Liverpool could be a problem and Barcelona are rumoured to be interested in his services, but as a forward who could thrive under Klopp, the South American should be on the club's shortlist.
Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
Perhaps the most typical Liverpool replacement for Mane is Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig. The Frenchman has experienced a real breakthrough year in the Bundesliga and with two years left on his contract, he could be attainable.
The Reds have a thing for picking up the brightest prospects held by Red Bull. Nkunku is their biggest star at the moment, having scored 20 goals in the German top-flight this season while registering a further 13 assists.
A former graduate of the PSG youth academy, Nkunku is extremely versatile having played all over his team's attack in the past 12 months, and now aged 24, he's primed to make the step up to one of Europe's heavyweights.
Nkunku would be the stereotypical Liverpool transfer.
Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)
One of the more obvious candidates to replace Mane is Serge Gnabry, who is experiencing his own contractual problems in Bavaria. The German forward's deal is due to expire next summer, and he's rejected a number of Bayern's proposals up until now.
Now 26 years-old, the ex-Arsenal attacker still has much of his prime ahead of him, he's accustomed to competing for the biggest honours, and he's very much in the mould of the type of forward that Klopp tends to like.
Gnabry has occupied roles through the centre and on both flanks in his homeland, and he's equally as quick as the likes of Mane and Salah. The German international is a keen presser on the defensive side of the game and when it comes to scoring goals, he's found the net at least 10 times in the Bundesliga across each of the past six campaigns dating back to his time at Werder Bremen.
If his contract demands are too much for Bayern to afford, that could be a problem for Liverpool, but he appears to be a natural heir to Mane's throne.
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)
A player who was strongly linked with Liverpool just 12 months ago is Jarrod Bowen. The West Ham United forward has since evolved under David Moyes to become one of the Premier League's most threatening attackers.
Bowen scored 12 goals - including zero penalties - and registered a further 10 assists this season. Only eight players scored more non-penalty goals than him, with three of those players contracted to Liverpool. In terms of assists, only Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold posted more.
Now 25 years-old, Bowen is approaching his peak years and unlike last summer, he has three years left on his contract rather than four. He's also homegrown which is a valuable perk considering the implications of Brexit on the transfer market, and he's remarkably two-footed much like Mane.
On the back of his recent rise, Liverpool should consider whether it is worth restoring their interest in him.
