Liverpool pondering move for 'spectacular' striker who scouts think could be the next Sergio Aguero - journalist

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Liverpool are just days away from seeing the January transfer window swing open.

After a quiet summer, supporters will be hoping for a little more action from the Reds in the New Year.

With things going so well for Arne Slot and his team on the pitch, it feels like a good time to add more firepower to the Liverpool squad.

One of the areas in which Liverpool will quite possibly be looking to add to is in the striking department.

The Reds have six very good forward options already at the club. However, with Darwin Nunez unable to nail down a spot in the starting XI and Diogo Jota constantly injured, Slot may want another solution.

And according to journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are one of the teams casting an eye towards Spartak Moscow forward Manfred Ugalde.

Liverpool weighing up Manfred Ugalde move

Some fans would argue that there are plenty of other more pressing positions for Liverpool to strengthen in this winter.

Left-back, for example, feels like something that needs attention. But with Milos Kerkez unlikely to leave in January, it seems more likely that Liverpool hold off on that front.

The same could be true of the forward line, of course, but according to Bailey, Liverpool are at the very least taking an interest in Ugalde’s good form for Spartak.

“Most of Europe are looking at this boy because his record in Russia is spectacular,” the transfer expert tells Rousing The Kop. “There are some scouts who think he could be the next Sergio Aguero.”

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“He’s known in Europe because the City group signed him initially for Lommel, so a lot of teams were aware of him when he was playing in Costa Rica.

“He’s only 22 and he’s available for £25m. In English football you can’t sign much for £25m, so I wouldn’t rule out a Premier League club signing him and loaning him out again and I think there’s quite a few clubs willing to take a gamble on him.

“Liverpool are one of many clubs who are taking a look at him,” Bailey adds. “And at the price they’ll be weighing up whether it’s worth the risk.”

Who is Manfred Ugalde?

For many supporters, this will be their first time hearing about Ugalde. But as Bailey says, the 22-year-old has been making an impact in Europe for a little while.

Having joined Belgian side Lommel in 2020, Ugalde has since had a spell at FC Twente – where he scored 22 goals in 84 appearances – before moving onto Spartak last January.

So far Ugalde has scored 17 in 38 games for the Russian capital side and also has three goals in 18 caps for Costa Rica.

For Spartak he tends to operate as a penalty box striker who can also drop deeper to link the play.

Standing at around 5 feet 6, Ugalde is a nippy forward who has pace and good instinctive finishing ability. He’s certainly one to watch in the market.