Liverpool scouts blown away by Igor Paixao as new Anfield signing news emerges
Liverpool’s comfort at the top of the Premier League has afforded them the time to make preparations for the summer.
The Reds are on course for their second league triumph in the decade, with an 11-point advantage between them and the next-best Arsenal.
Those in Merseyside have been infatuated with who’s going out rather than coming in, with the futures of key trio Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold yet to be resolved, but recent discourse has shifted with a potential target close to Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
Reds target winger Igor Paixao; Arsenal also circling
The player in question is Feyenoord’s Igor Paixao.
Paixao, 24, has risen in prominence among transfer sheets in recent weeks, with the form of the mercurial Brazilian winger, especially in the Champions League, alerting Europe’s big hitters.
According to those at CaughtOffside, Liverpool could soon step up efforts to bring Paixao to Anfield after receiving glowing scout reports on the Brazilian.
As well as Liverpool and Arsenal, there is also interest from Serie A duo Napoli and Atalanta, sources told CaughtOffside.
The report also understands there is a firm belief that Paixao has what it takes to make an impact in the Premier League.
The Brazil youth international has registered 14 goals and 13 assists in all competitions so far this season – the best of his career so far – and has gone from strength to strength in his professionalism since being coached by Slot at the Dutch team.
Sign of Slot backing
With a pending Premier League title in his debut season, Slot will be injected with significant backing to mould the squad in his fashion this coming summer.
Post-Jürgen Klopp rebuilding plans were shelved upon arrival as Slot geared up with what he had inherited plus savvy buy for squad player Federico Chiesa, but this year will have a lot more leeway and confidence to act in the market. Paixão interest represents that.
The Brazilian is still raw in performance but developed at a commendable rate in production, and the growing uncertainty around the long-term fit of Luis Díaz and the enigmatic Darwin Núñez, a move for Paixão could be the true mark of the Slot era beginning.