Arne Slot's Darwin Nunez Liverpool replacement can be next Roberto Firmino - but there's a catch

Brighton's Joao Pedro has reportedly been identified the man to lead the line in Arne Slot's new-look team. It is a transfer that would truly mark a step back into the past as the question arises, have Liverpool not already got the answer under their noses?

According to Brazilian reporter Bruno Andrade, Pedro is a 'priority' for the Anfield hierarchy with plans in place to begin negotiations next month in view of a summer transfer. The 23-year-old is described as being on the Reds' radar for over five years now, ever since he made the £9.8m switch from Fluminense to Watford in 2019.

He is tied to Brighton, who he joined in summer 2023 for £28.8m, until 2028, with Manchester United said to be applying pressure to wrap up this deal before anyone else can.

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Pedro is a talented player who has proven himself at both English top-flight and second-tier levels, growing into the striker he is today. At the younger end of the spectrum, he certainly fits the profile of player Liverpool would go for.

But is he truly what they need? It feeds into the wider debate surrounding Liverpool's attack force as we speak, as one of the most heavily-invested in areas of the squad of recent seasons despite seeming so fragile.

You have Mohamed Salah, who with 16 goals and 12 assists owns a 28 percent share of the team's total goal contributions under Slot so far. It is more than anyone else in the team plus 11 have been match-winning contributions, so if he is to end up leaving this season this dependance is just not sustainable.

Few complaints can be made of Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo - both have taken massive strides in a Reds shirt. The same can be said for Federico Chiesa, though rather for the lack of minutes since his summer transfer.

So the further issues land on the central forward position. Diogo Jota challenges Salah for the title of best finisher in the Liverpool squad, but he can only do that when he is fit.

The alternative option is Darwin Nunez. The £64m signing - rising to £85m - began the season on the bench, now with three goals in 19 outings faith is diminishing and criticism flourishing. "They are not all, they are some," was the message he fired back at critics after his troubling performance against Girona.

Slot defended his current striker, though there will come a time where the head coach and his superiors will have laid the foundations for transfer activity and the decision must be made to recruit a new goalscorer.

Andrade describes Pedro as a '9.5' - supposedly ideal for Slot's system as he values attackers who undertake creative and defensive duties. His signing may take Liverpool back to the days of Roberto Firmino as his compatriot redefined the central forward position over an eight-year span en route to becoming an Anfield icon.

Playing for Watford and Brighton in the Premier League the reported 'target' has made 71 appearances. Nunez has made 76 for Liverpool, and when compared the Brazilian comes out on top for passes completed (1529 to 945), passes forward (389 to 203), touches (2738 to 1738), interceptions (30 to seven), tackles (58 to 47), aerial battles won (111 to 78) fouls made (36 to 68) and offsides (17 to 55).

Firmino was a hero and it would be poetic for another Brazilian to act as his heir. Only the key word is 'was'.

He operated an integral role in Jurgen Klopp's team but in Slot's system now subtle changes have prompted greater cohesion off the ball to drastically improve the team's defensive record and a share of the creative duties. Yes, you want your striker to take part in that, but you also need them to be sticking the ball in the back of the net more than anything else.

In that regard, Nunez betters Pedro for goals scored (22 to 16), assists (12 to seven), minutes per goal (199 to 269), total shots (208 to 139) and big chances scored (14 to 10).

Where the Nunez scrutiny arises from is the fact he has missed 50 big chances in the Premier League. Pedro, on the other hand, has missed only 17.

There is a clinical goal threat somewhere inside the Uruguayan to remain persistent with unlocking, though that argument holds less and less weight the more time passes since his 2022 arrival.

On the flipside there is no reason to suggest Pedro could not develop into the player this team requires. The current is this - arguments have been presented, now it is up to Slot and Liverpool to produce answers.