Liverpool’s transfer plans are starting to excite supporters as the Reds look to build on a terrific campaign.
Nobody had expected things to go quite so well under Arne Slot this season, and it makes the future an even more interesting prospect.
As Slot approaches his second summer in charge at Liverpool, he is set to splash the cash in the transfer market.
After staying quiet last year, the Reds are already moving forward with some eye-catching deals. Jeremie Frimpong looks set to arrive as a nominal replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz has emerged as a surprise target as Liverpool look to address the creativity gap left by Alexander-Arnold.
But while a move for Wirtz has captured the imagination of supporters, it is going to be an incredibly expensive deal to pull off. And as the Reds wait and see where the cards will fall, they run the risk of missing out on another, much more doable deal.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Liverpool running risk of Rayan Cherki snub
Wirtz is clearly a super player and in the eyes of many justifies his £125m price tag. Liverpool don’t usually spend so big in the market, but as their pursuit of Moises Caicedo in 2023 showed, they will go to such lengths for the right player.
Two years ago, Liverpool pushed to sign Caicedo while still in active negotiations to bring Romeo Lavia from Southampton.
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Having watched as Caicedo held out for a move to Chelsea, Liverpool then went cap-in-hand back to Lavia, who promptly informed them that he was no longer interested. The Belgian also joined the Blues.
Unfortunately, with Liverpool believing Wirtz is Bayern Munich bound, they may have shot themselves in the foot with a similar scenario this summer.
READ MORE: Why Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have already played at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre as summer moves heat up
Here, the Lavia to Wirtz’s Caicedo is Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki. According to Give Me Sport, Cherki is desperate for a move to Anfield having been made aware of Liverpool’s interest in him.
However, it’s claimed that the Reds are currently making the Frenchman wait on their decision, as they hold out for Wirtz.
As the saga of 2023 showed, this is a game which could quickly backfire on Liverpool, leaving them without either target.
Who could be the Wataru Endo-shaped saviour?
Of course, Liverpool missing out on Caicedo and Lavia did not end too badly for them in the end. The Reds signed Wataru Endo for a fraction of the cost and the rest is history.
As Liverpool supporters chanted at Lavia when playing Chelsea in April, he could have played for the champions. Instead, he chose a top-four battle with the Blues.
So, if Liverpool do hold out for Wirtz, watch him choose Bayern and then find that Cherki has also become fed up of waiting, who do they turn to?
In our opinion, the Endo figure in this saga could be RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons. Simons would obviously be a lot more pricey than the Japanese was two years ago, but he could also offer a classy alternative to Wirtz and Cherki.
Hopefully things go differently this time around and Liverpool do get their top target. But with Wirtz very much in the balance, we still think the Reds might be better off learning their lesson and sticking £30m down for Cherki instead.