Liverpool Transfer News: Reds set to upgrade Darwin Nunez with SENSATIONAL player

Liverpool want Joao Pedro - and he would be an upgrade on Darwin Nunez. Here's how they match up.

It's now reported in several places that Liverpool are pushing forward on a deal for Joao Pedro. The Brazilian appears to be at the top (or very close to the top) of the Reds' shortlist in 2025.

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And talks could kickstart as soon as January if they haven't already. Liverpool have pinpointed the forward as an ideal piece - though, they'd done that years ago.

Michael Edwards had the club looking at Pedro before his move to Watford. This has been a pursuit of at least five years and Liverpool might finally get him.

That, however, would ask questions of several players in the squad. Top of that list would be Darwin Nunez, who is currently facing some criticism in Liverpool's no.9 role.

There's little question that Pedro would be an upgrade here, though.

Joao Pedro vs Darwin Nunez

We’re massive fans of Joao Pedro - let's get that out of the way. The Brazilian has everything you need to be a Roberto Firmino type and that's exactly the kind of player Liverpool could use right now.

Their wingers are dynamic, they've got Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones making runs into the box; the team is set up for a centre-forward who wants to bring others into play.

And that's what Pedro can bring. He averages 35 passes per 90 minutes, an incredibly high number for a striker, and a whopping 16 more on average than Nunez.

That right there shows a difference in style. If you want control - and Arne Slot very much does - Pedro brings that in ways Nunez simply doesn't.

And he does that while receiving the same number of forward passes as Nunez and boasting a similar number of touches in the attacking penalty area. And what's particularly notable about those numbers is that you'd expect to have more of both when playing in a team as dominant as Liverpool, not Brighton.

Defensively, they're similar (Nunez actually wins slightly more tackles) but Liverpool wouldn't lose anything in that regard, either.

Now, we're not suggesting Liverpool need to sell Nunez to make this work. But as a primary option, Pedro feels like the better fit and someone who can instantly mesh with Slot's style.

The Reds should control games a little better with the Brazilian and bring wingers into dangerous positions a little more often. Nunez can offer something different - and potentially play alongside Pedro if the latter drops into the no.10 role.

So as you might have figured out, we really like this idea. There's no guarantee when negotiating with Brighton but Pedro would be a phenomenal signing and one who can move Liverpool up a gear.

All stats per Fbref.

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