Liverpool officials have now travelled to rival Real Madrid in the battle to sign a midfield star, who is worth as much as £140m ahead of the summer.
Slot confirms Florian Wirtz injury blow
After escaping with all three points at the City Ground last time out, Liverpool play host to West Ham United this weekend in the hope of putting together a far more convincing display.
What didn't help last time out was Florian Wirtz's last-minute injury in the warm-up, which forced Curtis Jones into the side. The academy graduate very much looked like a player who was not expecting to start and was a large part of Liverpool's struggles against Nottingham Forest.
Wirtz is a big miss for the Reds now that he's found his feet and that will be on show for all to see once again after Arne Slot confirmed that he remains sidelined for this weekend's clash against West Ham.
Player PL Chances Created 25/26
Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) 76
Declan Rice (Arsenal) 50
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) 47
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) 46
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) 45
Slot revealed: "I don’t expect Florian to be available. That’s a disappointment of course.
"Every time when a player’s not available it’s a disappointment – and also something I didn’t expect after last week. But that’s sometimes how things can evolve and unfortunately this time not in a positive way."
salah-liverpool-wirtz
Continuing, the Dutchman also admitted that he doesn't know when the big-money creator will be back to full fitness, saying: "At this moment of time, no. And when I usually say that I do know that but I don’t want to share it. Now I honestly don’t know."
Without Wirtz, Liverpool's problems could become exposed once again this weekend and that's exactly why FSG are targeting another blockbuster signing.
Liverpool officials join Joao Neves race
The Reds could be set to spend big for the second consecutive summer. According to Sports Boom, Liverpool officials have joined the race to sign Joao Neves from Paris Saint-Germain after FSG sent them to watch the midfield star.
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Liverpool need to cash in on a number of their fringe players this summer.
The deal won't come cheap and the race won't be easy, however. PSG reportedly value the Portugal international at a hefty €160m (£140m) and interest from Real Madrid could hand Liverpool a transfer battle which will feel all too familiar.
Neves is certainly worth the pursuit, though. The 21-year-old is one of the best midfielders in the world. He is the epitome of class and would provide Liverpool with the pathway towards the control that they've lost in the middle of the park.
After splashing out a Premier League-record fee to welcome Alexander Isak last summer, Liverpool would have to make Neves the most expensive midfielder in English football history to secure his signature one year later. Everything suggests he'd be worth every penny, though.