Ex-Arsenal star sends Darwin Nunez transfer plea to Mikel Arteta with Kai Havertz comparison

Former striker Jeremie Aliadiere has expressed his love for a Liverpool player who he thinks would be a better option up top for his old club than Kai Havertz, who Mikel Arteta signed from Chelsea for $82m (£65m/€78m).

Asked by this week if Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres could be the answer for his old club to elevate itself up the table, he had a different idea. It turns out that he is a big fan of the Reds' number nine.

"I know he is at but I am a massive fan of ," he said. "Absolutely mad fan of the guy because I love his work ethic, his runs, and his determination. I wish we had a player like him at Arsenal. I remember in the summer there were some talks about him coming. That excited me because I’d love to see him with us.

"That type of player, keeps bothering defenders, making runs in behind, stretching the defense. Even though it’s not for him, it’s for the team, the others get massive rewards from it. I know people will say he needs five chances to score sometimes, he is not the best finisher, I am not bothered about this. For me, the effort and the work rate and the drama that he causes is worth everything."

Nunez has scored three times for Liverpool so far this season with two coming in the and one in the . With not expected back until after the matches with and Manchester City, Nunez is likely to get some more chances to impress when he returns from South America after Uruguay plays Brazil.

Liverpool.com says: Nunez does cause chaos but there is a big question mark over his finishing. He scores the hard ones and misses the easy ones and will have to iron that out of his game sooner rather than later to properly fulfill his potential. Liverpool will hope that happens at some point but the Uruguayan is more than two years into his career with the same inconsistencies.