Luis Diaz’s readymade replacement: The Arteta transfer GAMBLE Liverpool need to hijack

Liverpool and Arsenal might be going head-to-head in the race to sign Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, but there’s another player that the Anfield club should be seeking to pinch from the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s side are interested in signing Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich as a free agent in the summer, Bild has reported.

The Germany international winger would also be a smart pickup for Liverpool – and the 29-year-old is actually better suited to playing under Arne Slot than he would be going to the Emirates.

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Leroy Sane: An underrated force?

Sane is an attractive option primarily because he is available on a free transfer.

The former Manchester City star may not be a player that Vincent Kompany has relied upon heavily this season, but his statistics have still been impressive. In the Bundesliga this term, he rates well in all the key winger metrics and posts six goals and four assists, despite limited opportunities.

“We’ve known for several years that Leroy Sane has potential like no other player in Germany,” Matthaus wrote in a column for Sky Sport Deutschland in October 2023.

“He particularly fits modern, fast-paced football because he has a combination of speed, technique, and shooting. He’s showing good performances week in and week out and has also realized that football is a team sport and not only consists of attack, but also defence.”

Sane at his best is an excellent fit for Liverpool.

‘Slotball’ is perfect for him both in terms of playing style and formation, while he would also have the opportunity to reach his best level at Anfield. Data analytics firm SciSports give the Reds a Club Fit score of 78 for the winger, who could be a natural replacement for Luis Diaz if he were to leave.

Not that Arsenal are a bad option. The Gunners’ formation and style is not quite as tailormade for the ex-Schalke star, though.

What are Sane’s weaknesses?

With regard to a summer transfer, Sane does carry some baggage that both Arsenal and Liverpool should be wary of.

Attitude has been a major issue. After Sane scored twice against Hoffenheim, Matthaus said: “You always want to shake him, that he just does something and doesn’t think too much. And today he did a lot and didn’t think too much and he looked good.”

Secondly, wages are a concern. Although he would arrive cheap on a free transfer, he commands a €20 million salary at Bayern. This is currently the biggest stumbling block to him signing a new deal at the Allianz Arena and is likely the price he will be looking for if Arsenal or Liverpool were to make a move.

The wisdom of signing Sane hinges on whether the Premier League giants believe they can motivate him to find his best level, but even at his current standard, picking up a squad filler on a free transfer is an attractive proposition if the wage issue can be overcome.