Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been handed a major January transfer headache following confirmation that star striker Alexander Isak will be sidelined for several months.
Isak Injury Blow Confirmed
The club's record £125m signing suffered a fractured leg during the recent clash with Tottenham Hotspur. The injury occurred following a heavy challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven as Isak scored Liverpool's opening goal.
After undergoing an MRI scan, the 26-year-old Swedish international had successful surgery on Sunday. The procedure confirmed a lengthy layoff, with Isak expected to miss a substantial portion of the remainder of the season.
Carragher's Transfer Recommendations
The timing of the injury, coinciding with the opening of the January transfer window, at least allows Slot time to react. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has already publicly suggested two potential avenues for the club to explore.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher highlighted AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and loaned-out midfielder Harvey Elliott as possible solutions. "I think it's pretty certain now Salah will stay at Liverpool when he comes back from AFCON," Carragher stated, addressing another attacking question.
He pointed to Elliott's difficult loan spell at Aston Villa, where the 22-year-old has made only five appearances since October, as a reason he could be recalled. Furthermore, Carragher referenced long-standing Liverpool interest in Semenyo, noting his versatility to play across the front line.
"They seem to really like Semenyo, as a lot of other teams do," Carragher added, drawing a parallel to Liverpool's past strategy of signing short-term defensive cover during an injury crisis.
The Semenyo and Elliott Situations
Antoine Semenyo has emerged as one of the most sought-after attackers in the Premier League. The Bournemouth forward has a £65m release clause active for the first ten days of January, with Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham also reportedly interested.
Liverpool may hold a key advantage, however, as reports from The Guardian suggest Anfield is Semenyo's "preferred" and "dream" destination.
Meanwhile, discussions are believed to be underway regarding Harvey Elliott's early return from Aston Villa. His season-long loan includes a clause making the move permanent if he features ten times, a threshold Unai Emery appears reluctant to trigger given Elliott's lack of game time.
With fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike now the primary central striker, Slot is under pressure to bolster his attacking options. Pursuing a move for Semenyo and integrating Elliott back into the first-team setup are now firm possibilities on the table for the Reds' hierarchy.
