Alexander Isak or Marcus Thuram? The MASSIVE decision facing Liverpool

Liverpool’s centre-forward situation has clearly needed a regeneration for some time.

It has been coming all season but really came to a head when their out-and-out central attacking options, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, both dropped calamitous performances as Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG.

Liverpool Transfer News: Defender confirms move as Reds ready to steal club captain

The rumours that Arne Slot is eyeing a full attacking rebrand this summer have only been buoyed by this.

Two options seem to be emerging as serious contenders now - Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Inter’s Marcus Thuram.

Both are excellent young strikers who have demonstrated they can play at the highest level.

Alexander Isak

Isak would be a prize addition for obvious reasons. He has 19 goals and counting in the Premier League this season, including the opener in the 3-3 draw against the Reds earlier this season.

He has proven his pedigree at this level and, whilst it would reportedly cost the Reds in excess of £100m for his services, that is a figure the club could justify.

He is a dynamic option as a centre-forward, adept both with the ball at his feet and at reading a defensive line to capitalise on balls into the box.

READ MORE: €65m midfielder confirms he'll be Liverpool's next signing

Isak is a mazy dribbler when he needs to be and can often occupy wide positions when Newcastle are in attacking phases due to his pace. For Liverpool, this would necessitate runners into the box when it happens, something the team haven’t been amazing at this season.

Marcus Thuram

Thuram, on the other hand, provides a bit of a different profile. He's scored 13 goals in Serie A this season; the amount he scored last season despite having played eight less games so far - as well as adding three in the Champions League.

READ MORE: PSG defeat sealed the FATE of Liverpool attackers

He’s a less dynamic figure than Isak. He’s visibly slower and has a bigger body, allowing himself to have more physicality in those central areas.

As a result, he occupies the centre of the box brilliantly, reading defensive lines very well to ensure he is getting into the spaces that the defenders are leaving whilst trying to mark him.

Thuram is also a brilliant linker of play in transition, holding the ball up physically and proving his passing ability to give Inter’s other attackers excellent chances in the space he has vacated. Failing this, his shot power is excellent and he is continuing to prove himself as a marksman - the top corner finish seen against Feyenoord on Tuesday night is something seen throughout his repertoire.

This gives him a Harry Kane-like ability across the attacking line and we don’t need to mention twice just how good the English captain was at the Premier League level.

Who should Liverpool sign?

For a Liverpool side that often find themselves facing low defensive blocks, Thuram’s physical presence, willingness to occupy centre-backs and ability to find space could be essential.

He would also have been perfect for the games against PSG, providing an outlet for the team to transition into attacks from against the dogged Parisians and their ability to regain possession.

Yet Liverpool would certainly lose an element of counter-attacking ability seen this season, particularly when playing the ball into Salah. In those areas, Isak would feast on transitional defenders and Salah’s pace too.

But Thuram being on the team would mean Salah would no longer have to be the physical outlet, allowing him to revert purely to his place as runner and dribbler.

It’s a convincing argument that perhaps suggests that, especially at a cut-price deal (Thuram is valued at £63m on Transfermarkt), the Frenchman may be the better option.

READ MORE: Why João Pedro is favoured over Alexander Isak