Liverpool ‘interest’ in 16-goal midfielder should point to clever Roberto Firmino succession plan

Liverpool has reportedly shown an interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada, but AC Milan is poised to win the race.

Kamada’s contract with the reigning Europa League winner is expiring, which means he’ll be leaving on a free transfer.

According to The Athletic, the Reds looked into a potential deal, along with Bundesliga runner-up Borussia Dortmund, Primeira Liga champion Benfica and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal, but the player’s preference has always been to join Milan.

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The deal isn’t done yet, but the Rossoneri are readying a four-year deal that will make Kamada one of their highest-paid players.

On the face of it, this looks like a missed opportunity to launch Liverpool’s midfield rebuild.

As per Transfermarkt, Kamada made 24 appearances as a number eight, 16 as an attacking midfielder and five as a left winger this season.

But when you dig a little deeper, you realize the Reds may have had another plan for him too.

Back in 2018/19, when he was out loan from Frankfurt, the Japanese international played 27 games as either a second striker or a center-forward for Belgian side Sint-Trudinese.

This hasn’t been a particularly prominent feature of his stint in Germany, but Kamada, who scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions this season, does possess the attributes to operate as a false nine.

That’s why, in 2021, Tifo Football picked him out as a potential successor to Roberto Firmino.

If Liverpool had beaten Milan in the transfer race, Kamada would primarily have operated as an advanced number eight, but he may also have offered an option in the frontline — almost like the reverse of Cody Gakpo, who is a forward who has played in midfield.

While the 26-year-old won’t be making the move to Anfield, the Reds’ interest may still be instructive. Perhaps they will look, with one of their midfield transfers, to kill two birds with one stone, adding a player who can simultaneously improve their depth in two departments. That should certainly be the case.

Firmino has played his final game for the club as he too leaves on a free transfer, but Liverpool still has five elite attacking options, so a ‘replacement’ may not seem necessary.

Injuries, however, are a concern. Diogo Jota has missed 50 matches across his three seasons at Liverpool, Luis Díaz was sidelined for 31 last term and an overlooked spate of knocks kept Darwin Núñez out for seven games.

There were only two periods in the season where all three were available — early September to mid-October and mid-April to early May, a combined span of 12 games.

Speaking after the season-ending 4-4 draw with Southampton on Sunday (via Liverpool’s official website), Jürgen Klopp said this was partly down to misfortune.

“We all need a bit of luck,” he explained. “Today we could see the influence of Diogo Jota, not available for most of the season. Luis Díaz, not available for most of the season. Cody Gakpo, only came in the winter. Bobby Firmino, not available for big parts of the season. Darwin Núñez [is] completely new.”

Still, though, there’s a clear argument for adding an extra body, just to be on the safe side.

Don’t be surprised, then, to see new Liverpool sporting director Jörg Schmadtke target midfielders who are capable of playing in attack too.

That may be the best way for the Reds to assemble a complete squad with a transfer budget that has no doubt been hit by the failure to qualify for the Champions League.