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Liverpool have added Brentford winger Kevin Schade to their summer transfer shortlist following confirmation that Antoine Semenyo will join Manchester City instead of Anfield. The German international has been monitored by Liverpool scouts for over five years since his emergence at Freiburg, with manager Arne Slot seeking attacking reinforcements who offer pace and pressing intensity.
Liverpool Turn Attention to Brentford’s Kevin Schade After Semenyo Joins Manchester City
The 24-year-old predominantly left-winger fits the same profile as Semenyo, operating as an inverted forward capable of playing centrally and across the front line. Liverpool’s long-standing interest dates back to Schade’s breakthrough at Freiburg, where former manager Jurgen Klopp admired his style before the player eventually moved to Brentford due to valuation concerns at the time.
Schade’s exceptional pace represents a key attraction for Liverpool’s recruitment team, having recorded a top speed of 36.37 km/h during his first Bundesliga season that was faster than Alphonso Davies and Erling Haaland. At Brentford, he has maintained that speed in the Premier League, clocking 34.8km/h as the fastest player for his club this season while offering the kind of runs beyond defences that Liverpool currently lack.
The German international’s tactical versatility appeals to Slot’s system, with Schade capable of playing across the front three having operated as a right-winger for most of his Bundesliga career. His pressing intensity and channel running provide a different dimension to Liverpool’s attack, contrasting with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah who prefer receiving the ball to feet rather than stretching defences vertically.
Liverpool’s measured approach to recruitment under Slot emphasizes long-term fit over short-term solutions, with Schade’s five-year tracking period demonstrating strategic planning rather than opportunistic targeting. The club’s admiration for Semenyo was well-established but his move to Manchester City has prompted a familiar recalibration toward alternative targets who offer similar attributes and positional flexibility.
Schade’s presence on Liverpool’s shortlist suggests groundwork has already been laid for potential summer negotiations with Brentford, who are known for demanding premium fees for their key players. The winger’s combination of pace, pressing and positional intelligence aligns with Slot’s emphasis on speed and intensity as Liverpool look to add variety to their attacking options ahead of the new season.
