Liverpool urged to sign ex-Arsenal transfer target to replace Luis Diaz | Football

Premier League champions Liverpool have been urged to sign ex-Arsenal transfer target Rodrygo from Real Madrid as a replacement for Luis Diaz.

Real Madrid are reported to be open to selling the Brazil international this summer and have slapped an €100m (£86m) price tag on the winger.

Arsenal have long been linked to the 24-year-old star, although they’ve somewhat cooled their interest to focus on a deal for Eberechi Eze.

After Liverpool sold Diaz to Bayern Munich for £65.5m earlier this week, Jermaine Pennant has advised Arne Slot’s side to recruit Rodrygo.

‘Rodrygo is a fantastic option to replace Diaz’

‘Liverpool are in the business of signing world-class players,’ the former Liverpool winger told Adventure Gamers.

‘Real Madrid’s Rodrygo looks a fantastic option to replace [Luis Diaz].

‘He’s not some young, unstudied talent – he’s an experienced and established player as it is and watching him over the years has been exciting.

‘He’s quick, powerful, direct and very tricky to defend against and you could even say he fits a similar profile to Diaz.

‘It’d be a like-for-like replacement and a transfer that I could see the fans really getting behind.’

Pennant: Ekitike is a ‘top signing’ for Liverpool

Pennant has also shared his thoughts on Hugo Ekitike, who joined Liverpool in a deal worth an initial £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.

Pennant says that Ekitike reminds him of Alexander Isak – another striker who Liverpool have tried to sign from Newcastle United ahead of the new season – with a £110m bid rejected by the Magpies.

‘I think Hugo Ekitike is certainly good enough to be Liverpool’s starting number nine this season in the Premier League,’ Pennant added.

‘He’s got good feet and has a similar stature and style to that of Alexander Isak, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to put the same kind of numbers up, though.

‘He’s a good player and with regards to the price tag, it’ll only be the maximum number (£79m) if he hits the heights the club has set for him.

‘If he does, then it’s definitely money well spent. Liverpool will save on a small amount in add-ons if some of those targets aren’t reached.

‘I think it’s a top signing in this window, you can’t get a top striker in the current market for under £60-70 million, I’m excited to see how he does.’

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