Isak will love him: Liverpool line up move to sign a "young Mane" for £35m

Arne Slot believes that a pinpoint summer transfer window could make a world of difference for Liverpool ahead of the new campaign.

However, the Anfield side need to be challenging for the Premier League title, and the manager who has overseen this staggering decline must find a way to slash the 23-point gap that has appeared between them and first-place Arsenal.

This has been a staggering falloff for fifth-place Liverpool, who may well scrape Champions League qualification, but have left so much to be desired from the get-go this season.

Mutinous sections of the fanbase call for Slot's dismissal, but FSG have maintained the faith in the coach who delivered a Premier League title only 12 months ago.

If Slot is going to stay, then sporting director Richard Hughes and co need to hit the mark with every bid over the next three months.

Liverpool in race for Bundesliga winger

Mohamed Salah has just one more game ahead of him before he bows out at the end of an almighty Liverpool career, but FSG appear to have sounded out RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande as the perfect replacement out on the right flank.

However, Diomande isn't the only one on sporting director Richard Hughes' radar, with Cody Gakpo's woes on the left wing exacerbating a summer strategy already damaged by Hugo Ekitike's ruptured Achilles.

According to Sky Germany, Liverpool have joined Aston Villa, Manchester United and Newcastle United in showing 'concrete interest' in Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure, who could be available for around €40m (£35m).

Hoffenheim don't want to cash in, but after missing out on Champions League football this season, their bargaining chips have been greatly reduced.

Toure is only 20, but he is already developing into one of the most exciting wingers in Europe, with the kind of profile that could suit Alexander Isak to a tee.

Why Toure could be perfect for Isak at Liverpool

Toure has been exceptional this season, scoring five goals and supplying nine assists in the Bundesliga. Given that he typically plays off the left flank, there's every chance that Liverpool could sign him alongside someone like Diomande, who would be a more direct Salah replacement.

Toure's flashy dribbling and willingness to create for centre-forwards could see him service Isak superbly - and the Sweden striker certainly needs some creative support, having endured a torrid maiden year on Merseyside, partly because of injuries and partly because of struggles to integrate into Slot's dysfunctional set-up.

Toure is a crowd-pleasing winger, but he has a lot of substance within his skill set. This is a player who could become a mainstay in Liverpool's frontline, a dynamic and unpredictable force.

Journalist Bence Bocsak has even remarked that Toure reminds him of "a little bit of a young Sadio Mane", bringing an all-action style to the winger's game.

His output in the final third could do with some work, but there's so much to like. And while he has only scored five times in the Bundesliga this term, Toure only missed three big chances, emphasising his natural clinical edge. He just needs to harness and channel it.

However, his energy and willingness to drive into the box underscores his elite potential. He created 11 big chances in the league this term, and given that he is not a designated set-piece specialist, it's understandable that he should have piqued the interest of the analysts at Anfield.

Whether he emerges as Liverpool's new Mane remains to be seen, but there are similarities through physical and athletic metrics, having won 1.6 dribbles and 5.1 duels per game this term.

Mane is irreplaceable, with Gakpo certainly paling in comparison this season. Liverpool do need to inject some fresh impetus into their attacking line though, and Toure could be the shrewd signing to kickstart Slot's spluttering engine.

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