Liverpool is regaining stability under Arne Slot but still lacks dynamism. The recent Premier League win against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers, while securing three points, highlighted a continued inability to confidently control and finish matches, showcasing some second-half shakiness.
Slot faces the task of instilling greater resilience and control in the squad. However, the requirement for balance extends beyond defensive additions, as the frontline has not appeared entirely cohesive this season. With this in mind, the club’s ownership, FSG, is reportedly looking to acquire a new wide forward in the January transfer window.
Liverpool opted not to directly replace Luis Diaz this summer following his £65.5 million transfer to Bayern Munich in August. His pace and energy down the left flank have been sorely missed.
While Bournemouth`s Antoine Semenyo had been a player of interest, Liverpool did not follow up on their November enquiries, and he is now reportedly close to moving to Manchester City. Instead, FSG is aiming for a dynamic wide forward, having reportedly identified a cost-efficient winter bargain.
According to sources in Spain, Borussia Dortmund forward and German international, Karim Adeyemi, could be on the move this winter. Liverpool is said to have lodged an initial low-ball bid of €20 million (approximately £17 million) for the player.
(Image of Karim Adeyemi, Borussia Dortmund forward)
Dortmund is likely insulted by this valuation, given that Adeyemi was previously valued at €75 million (£65 million). It would not be a surprise to see Liverpool`s Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, return with an improved offer in the coming weeks as negotiations continue.
Adeyemi, who is 23 years old, is currently in his fourth campaign in Germany with Borussia Dortmund. Talent scout Jacek Kulig described the versatile attacker as an `immense counter-attacking weapon`. This season, Adeyemi has scored six goals and provided three assists across 22 games in all competitions.
Although he has not yet reached his prime, he has already demonstrated a clear goal-scoring aptitude that matches his natural flair and dynamism when zipping up and down the flank. These attributes draw clear comparisons to Luis Diaz, who registered 17 goals and eight assists last season. Diaz`s dynamism was often utilized by Slot to field him in a makeshift centre-forward role—a versatility Adeyemi has consistently demonstrated throughout his career.
| Karim Adeyemi – Career Stats by Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Apps | Goals + Assists |
| Centre-forward | 131 | 68 + 35 |
| Left wing | 59 | 19 + 15 |
| Right wing | 50 | 10 + 7 |
| Attacking midfield | 20 | 5 + 4 |
| Data via Transfermarkt |
Adeyemi mirrors Diaz not only in his goal-scoring threat—ranking among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90—but also in his controlled and economical use of athleticism. The data-driven platform FBref has graded Diaz as being one of Adeyemi`s most statistically comparable players.
(Image comparing Karim Adeyemi and Luis Diaz)
Furthermore, given that the left-footed German`s attacking skills are often best applied out on the right wing, there is a strong argument that he might arrive at Anfield not only as a replacement for Diaz`s energy but also as Mohamed Salah`s eventual long-term successor.
Now that he is beginning to establish himself as an `unstoppable` forward on his day, as noted by Como scout and analyst Ben Mattinson, Adeyemi may be ready to take the leap over to the Premier League and become the forward that Arne Slot needs to make this next chapter on Merseyside an auspicious one.
Rupert Fawcett
