Steve Nicol wanted ‘fantastic’ Roberto Firmino-styled player at Liverpool before he joined Chelsea

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Liverpool have done some of the best transfer business in the Premier League this summer.

Despite winning the Premier League last season, Arne Slot has gone out and made a statement of the Reds’ intent ahead of the upcoming campaign, as Liverpool signed the highly-rated Florian Wirtz, while also adding Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to their squad.

One issue that remains at Anfield is the striker role, as doubt remains over the future of Darwin Nunez, with the Uruguayan linked away from Merseyside in recent weeks.

Liverpool have been linked with several forwards during the current transfer window, and with one target completing a move to Chelsea, former Reds defender Steve Nicol has stated that he would have loved the player at Anfield.

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Steve Nicol wanted Joao Pedro at Liverpool

Joao Pedro recently completed a transfer from Brighton to Chelsea, with the Brazilian making an instant impact for the Blues at the FIFA Club World Cup by scoring a brace in their semi-final clash against Fluminense.

Before making the switch to Stamford Bridge, Liverpool showed interest in Pedro; however, the Reds never submitted a proposal for the player, but Nicol wishes they had, as the pundit believes the 23-year-old would have replaced Roberto Firmino at Anfield.

“I think it’s a fantastic signing. I actually was hoping maybe Liverpool might try and sign him, obviously before the whole Wirtz thing came around,” Nicol said about Chelsea’s signing of Pedro on ESPN FC.

“Because I think that he kind of reminds me of Bobby Firmino a little bit. He’s more athletic than Bobby Firmino, but he’ll score goals, and he’ll absolutely connect things in the middle of the park, and he’ll connect things in and around the box as well.

“I think he’s a Bobby Firmino. I think that’s what he is, and watching this Chelsea team without Jackson up front and with Joao Pedro up front, I thought they looked a completely different team. I thought they looked way better going forward.

“I thought they looked exciting. I think Joao Pedro is a great player.”

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How Joao Pedro compares to Roberto Firmino

Firmino is a loved character among Liverpool fans, and a lot of that is down to how he carried himself on the pitch.

Pedro may not have the work rate of his fellow Brazilian; however, their styles are very similar, as both like to drop deep to create for their teammates, while also being lethal in the opposition’s box.

The duo may not score the same number of goals as Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak, but that works perfectly at Liverpool, as it provides Mohamed Salah with more opportunities to put the ball into the back of the net.

Slot may have missed a trick with Pedro; however, it would not have been smart for the Reds to make a move while Nunez is still at the club, while the Dutch coach may also view Wirtz as a player who can play in the false nine role over the coming season.