Liverpool’s search for attacking balance has already become one of the defining themes of Andoni Iraola’s early months, and according to TeamTalk, Brentford forward Kevin Schade has moved firmly into view. The report states that Liverpool “have emerged as a genuine contender and one of the strong favourites to sign Brentford winger Kevin Schade”, with the possibility that “a deal could be done as soon as January”.

That is the sort of rumour that gains force for a reason. It is not simply that Schade has started the season brightly, though “the 24-year-old has made a strong start to the campaign, scoring three goals in his opening five Premier League appearances”. It is that his profile appears to answer a tactical need that has been left unresolved. Liverpool remain a side in transition, and one of the clearest gaps in the squad lies on the right of the front line.

The source report identifies that issue directly, noting that “another big demand lies on the right side of the attack, and the failure to replace Mohamed Salah with a like-for-like replacement over the summer leaves Iraola with a problem to fix.” That reads as an important line, because it gets to the heart of squad construction. Liverpool have goals, they have energy, and they have options across the frontline, but modern elite sides tend to need clarity as much as talent. Roles matter. Reference points matter.

Schade may not be a pure imitation of Salah, few players are, but his appeal is easier to understand when considered through function rather than fame. TeamTalk reports that “while Schade is often seen on the left side of Brentford’s attack, he is more than comfortable and effective at performing off the right wing”. In Iraola’s football, that flexibility has value. Wide players are asked to run, to counter-press, to drive into space and to attack the box at speed. Schade can do each of those things.

He also offers a degree of physicality that can alter games. TeamTalk describes him as a “direct, physical winger” and that phrasing feels instructive. Liverpool have often looked at their best when their attack carries a sense of vertical menace, when opponents are stretched not only by passing but by repeated running. Schade’s pace, in that context, becomes more than an individual gift. It becomes a structural asset.

As ever, talent alone does not decide transfers. Contract status does. Brentford are said to be trying to secure their position, having “already opened talks with his representatives” over fresh terms. Yet the report also adds that “a parting of ways cannot be ruled out” and that “a failure to agree terms on an extension in the coming weeks unlocks the possibility of a mid-season sale”.

That is where the story sharpens. Brentford signed Schade from Freiburg in 2023 for “around £20 million (€24m, $27m)” and would clearly expect a significant profit. Liverpool, meanwhile, are now “under the regime of new sporting director Julian Ward” and are presented in the report as a club “keen to make a big splash in January in a show of faith to their new man.” If that is accurate, then this is more than a passing scouting exercise. It begins to sound like strategic intent.

Brentford’s league position will matter too. Schade has helped Keith Andrews’ side produce an “unbeaten run that includes wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea”, and the article notes that Andrews will be keen to keep him, especially if the club stay in contention for “an historical Champions League place.” Selling during a promising season always carries a sporting cost, even when the financial logic is sound.