How Anthony Gordon’s record pace could transform Arne Slot’s Liverpoo… — and more

Arne Slot has been vocal about wanting more pace in his attack, and Anthony Gordon would certainly bring that to the table.

The Reds sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich over the summer, while Darwin Nunez also moved on.

That’s left Liverpool with few options on the left flank, and they’re not exactly quick either – something Slot isn’t keen on.

The manager has already discussed his interest in adding more speed up front, even comparing it to what PSG have.

After signing Hugo Ekitike, Slot said: “As we can all see, he’s [Ekitike] a good finisher, he’s very comfortable on the ball. But what stands out for me is he belongs to the fastest players we have.”

“We faced Paris Saint-Germain last season, where we had to face [Ousmane] Dembele, [Bradley] Barcola, [Desire] Doue – all these incredibly fast players. So that is what we’ve tried to add with him.”

Anthony Gordon clocks fastest speed in Champions League this season

And when it comes to pure speed, there aren’t many better options out there than Anthony Gordon.

Recent data highlighted that Hugo Ekitike is Liverpool’s quickest player in the competition, hitting 34.91km/h. But even that mark doesn’t stack up against Gordon’s pace this season.

The Newcastle winger hit a top speed of 37.92km/h, according to CIES — the highest recorded by any player remaining in the tournament.

On the other hand, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz didn’t even feature on the list for their speeds in this year’s Champions League.

That said, Wirtz isn’t really a natural left winger and will probably spend more time playing as a number 10 moving forward.

Still, Gakpo has been a source of frustration for Liverpool fans lately. And considering he doesn’t fit the profile Slot is looking for, replacing him with Gordon seems like a logical move.

Liverpool lost out on signing Anthony Gordon in the summer

While there’s been plenty of talk online about Gordon making a switch to Liverpool, nothing concrete has come from it so far.

It’s worth remembering that he was close to joining Liverpool back in 2024 but the deal never materialised.

Speaking about the failed move, Gordon explained what happened. He said: “It’s true, that was the case,” he said on almost joining Liverpool. “I would never lie.”

“With PSR, I thought I was going to leave at some point in the window. It didn’t happen.

“I had to get my head around that to begin with. And then to get my head around it again (when it didn’t happen) was hard.”

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Manchester United are ready to go to war with Europe’s elite to secure the signature of Hertha Berlin wonderkid Kennet Eichhorn, according to the latest report from Germany.

The next Toni Kroos

Despite being just 16 years old, Eichhorn has already established himself at the heart of Hertha’s midfield with a series of mature performances that belie his age. Described as an “all-action midfielder”, the German under-17 international has drawn comparisons to Toni Kroos such is the ease with which he can dictate play from the middle of the pitch.

Eichhorn became the youngest player to start a match in Bundesliga 2 history in the 3-0 win over Hannover 96 in September. In a post-match interview, Hertha manager Stefan Leitl described the youngster as “by far the best player on the pitch”.

However, this meteoric rise has not gone unnoticed – both inside and outside of Germany. Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt are all keeping close tabs on Eichhorn, while Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are also hot on his tail, according to Bild (as relayed by Sports Witness).

But the Red Devils are also said to have “expressed interest” – with a view towards “lining up” a swoop this summer – as INEOS continue to hunt for the best young talent from across the globe.

Big-money for big potential

Eichhorn’s contract at the Olympiastadion contains a release clause worth €10-12 million (£8.75-10.5m). This is a considerable price for a 16-year-old – but the Hertha starlet is no ordinary youngster.

In addition to his maturity on and off the pitch, the German already stands 6’1″ and has shown an ability – and, more importantly, an appetite – to compete physically. There is a growing sense of urgency amongst the continent’s biggest clubs to strike a deal now which will prove a bargain in the long run.

Madrid are understood to be “particularly keen” on Eichhorn as their scouts believe he has the potential to be a successor to Kroos at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, United are also in the hunt for reinforcements in midfield as the Mancunian club look to overhaul the weakest area of their squad.

At least two new options are expected to arrive at Old Trafford this summer, with Casemiro‘s contract set to expire at the end of the season and the future of Manuel Ugarte far from certain. If the 24-year-old Uruguayan was to join his Brazilian teammate through the exit door, the Red Devils would need to sign a third midfielder.

In this scenario, big-money moves for two established stars – say Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, for example – could be balanced by a raid for an outstanding young prospect like Eichhorn, who has already demonstrated an ability to compete in senior football.

Final Thoughts – A Big Decision Looms

Eichhorn is currently out injured with a serious ankle injury, sustained in a draw with Schalke 04 last month. There is an outside chance he may miss the remainder of the campaign.

This would mean the youngster has already played his last game for his boyhood club, with a summer exit “widely expected.” He is currently recovering and planning his next move with his family.

United will have to present a more attractive vision for his future at Old Trafford than any offer at the Bernabeu, Camp Nou or Allianz Arena if they are to win the red-hot race for Germany’s next superstar.

Featured image Christian Kaspar-Bartke via Getty Images

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