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As the season progresses into its latter stages, numerous clubs start to firmly narrow down exactly who they're going to chase in the summer transfer window.

In recent years, Liverpool have been one of the most efficient in the market, having developed a reputation for selling high and buying well.

One of the key reasons behind the Reds' efficiency in the market since Jurgen Klopp's arrival is the club's inclusion of advanced analytics in the process, which incorporates the use of statistics and numbers to identify players.

Michael Edwards, the club's sporting director, has led the induction of such an approach due to his belief and background in analytics.

Since arriving at Anfield, Edwards has changed the way in which the club scout and recruit players. This approach has led to the likes of Mohamed Salah,Sadio Mane,Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk all being identified as players with high ceilings of potential based on their underlying numbers.

Is Timo Werner the man for Liverpool?

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Each of those players transferred from smaller clubs in terms of reputation, but despite that, they have since progressed to an elite level.

This summer, the Reds will be in need of an elite striker, given that Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings have been sold, Daniel Sturridge might leave for free, and Divock Origi's departure looks likely.

Such a scenario leaves Roberto Firmino, Salah and Rhian Brewster as options, which simply isn't enough to sustain a challenge for top honours.

Liverpool will surely be using their analytics to search for attackers with strong underlying numbers ahead of the summer transfer window.

The criteria

Given that Liverpool are now one of the best teams in Europe, it is reasonable to suggest that the recruitment team can aim fairly high in terms of the standard of the incoming striker.

The gold standard is basically Salah, as his underlying numbers represent an ideal, top-quality attacker. Klopp has stated in the past how convinced the scouting department were of Salah before signing him.

Speaking of acquiring the Egyptian, and the role the scouting department played in that, he said: ""hey were really in my ear: ‘Come on, come on, Mo Salah, he’s the solution!'"

So using Wyscout, a professional scouting platform used by various clubs across Europe, the fundamental areas in which Salah excels in are - touches in the box per 90 minutes, number of shots per 90, Expected Goals (xG) per 90, and key passes per 90.

These are common areas used to assess whether a striker is a worthwhile purchase or not, rather than simply looking at how many goals he's scored.

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The findings

After selecting the aforementioned areas as the criteria, Salah's numbers were considered - but were slightly lowered due to the fact that very, very few perform to the 26-year-old's level in its entirety.

For example, rather than using Salah’s six touches in the box, four touches was chosen as the criteria, which is still high. An age limit of 26 was then imposed, with only players playing in attacking areas allowed to appear.

Twenty four players were found based on underlying numbers over the last calendar year.

Salah and his Anfield team-mate Mane appeared, as well as other stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Harry Kane.

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However, various other attackers appeared that are perhaps considered as more under the radar and should therefore be cheaper to purchase.

Nabil Fekir, who saw his move to Liverpool collapse in the summer, was one name to emerge; Inaki Williams and Timo Werner, both linked with a move to Liverpool elsewhere, also featured.

Other more obscure attacking talents appeared including Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Andre Silva (Sevilla), Florian Thauvin (Marseille), Maxwel Cornet (Lyon) and Nicolas Pepe (Lille).

These are players that should consistently be showing up to Liverpool's scouting team based on their underlying numbers.

(Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Who should Liverpool sign this summer?

Based on the findings, the most ideal striker signing would be RB Leipzig star Werner, followed by the wildcard option of Jovic.

Werner’s numbers surprisingly edge Salah’s in some areas over the last calendar year, indicating the German’s output is considerably high.

In terms of shots per 90, the German averages 3.63 compared to Salah’s 3.5, and Werner’s xG per 90 is also higher, with 0.64 versus Salah’s 0.55.

It’s important to remember that these numbers posted by Salah are elite, so for Werner to be matching them at the Bundesliga club is impressive.

Salah edges Werner when looking at touches in the box though, with 5.55 compared to 5.43, but the fact that the numbers so far are very tight indicates that the two are very similar in terms of goal threat.

The difference between the two is evident when highlighting key passes though, as the Egyptian dwarfs Werner with double the output. A key pass is one that leads to a shot, indicating that Werner has Salah’s goal threat but half his creativity.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen which player Liverpool will approach in the summer to fulfil their need for a striker, but based on recent seasons, there’s no doubting the fact that advanced analytics will be incorporated into the process.

With that being the case, a number of potential targets should be evident already to Liverpool’s scouting team - including Jovic and Werner - but with the former being on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt from Benfica, the latter appears to better option according to the data.