Liverpool’s signing of Luis Diaz last month represented an uncharacteristic move by the Reds.
The winter transfer window is a notoriously difficult one in which to land targets for a reasonable fee, meaning big clubs like Liverpool tend to do very little notable business.
However, Diaz was one of Liverpool’s key targets and was actually brought into the club for a fee lower than what he would have cost had he been signed in the summer, making it a move that made plenty of sense.
Diaz had enjoyed a standout season in Portugal prior to his switch, netting 16 goals whilst registering a further five assists.
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He’s an accomplished wider attacker and his arrival hints that he might end up being a replacement for one of Liverpool’s established front three, most like Sadio Mane given the similarities in style between the two.
Yet in the short term, Liverpool now have five top-class attackers at their disposal in Mane, Diaz, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.
The forward line has also been boosted by the return of Harvey Elliot, although for now, Jurgen Klopp seems to enjoy utilising the teenager inside his midfield.
Liverpool’s strength in depth in the forward positions means you’d expect it to be unlikely that we will see them sign another forward this summer. However, the form of one of their key targets from last year is becoming harder and harder to ignore.
That player concerned is West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen. Klopp is said to be a huge admirer of the forward, and there was talk of Liverpool formalising a bid for the West Ham man in the summer, but the same never materialised.
Since then, Bowen has continued to develop at an impressive rate, legitimising Liverpool’s interest last year.
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Right now, the 25-year-old has scored six goals in his last six games and boasts a total of 21 goal involvements across the season so far. He’s actually registered more goal involvements than any other English player across the Premier League.
What makes him so appealing from a Liverpool perspective is that like Salah, he’s a left-footed attacker who features on the right side of his team’s attack.
Although Liverpool have recruited really well in the forward positions by bringing in Jota and Diaz, neither have a profile that mirrors Salah’s. Bowen’s however does.
He’s not as dangerous of course, no player in the world has been this season. Yet as a player, he’s robust, durable, skilful and an all-around handful.
He’s also developed into somewhat of a pressing monster and ranks inside the Premier League’s top ten for all players in terms of the highest number of pressures made this season (382).
Whilst there’s no longer an urgent need to bring in a new forward, and hopes remain high that Salah will extend his contract at Anfield, there are plenty of reasons why Bowen could still be firmly on Liverpool’s radar going into the summer transfer window.
