**Liverpool are already making plans for next summer ahead of the winter window.**
Julian Ward recently began his second stint as sporting director at Anfield, and the Englishman is now charged with leading the Reds’ recruitment team as the club looks to compete on all fronts again.
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The last three transfer windows have seen Liverpool spend over £650 million, but there is still more work to be done.
With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both into the final 12 months of their deals, and big question marks being raised over the fitness of Giovanni Leoni, Andoni Iraola’s side will likely be looking to recruit a defender in the near future.
Liverpool not the only team chasing Bundesliga sensation
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There are of course several top central defenders being linked with Merseyside moves, but the Reds aren’t the only team in need of defensive reinforcements.
One of the most exciting targets reportedly on Wards’ list is [**German wonderkid Finn Jeltsch**](https://www.anfieldwatch.co.uk/liverpool-fc/news/liverpool-closely-monitoring-bundesliga-wonderkid-ahead-of-potential-move/), who currently plays for VfB Stuttgart.
The young star has become a key player in the Stuttgart side that finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, and the 20-year-old is now a mainstay in Sebastian Hoeneß’s side.
According to a new update from [Ekrem Konur](https://x.com/Ekremkonur/status/2110335443329785986?s=20), it isn’t just Liverpool that are monitoring the defender’s progress though.
Konur states that Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Inter Milan are all preparing summer moves for Jeltsch, so Iraola’s side will have some crazy competition.
Stuttgart are believed to want a fee in the region of €50-60 million (~£42-50m), but the calibre of teams interested could well push that price even higher.
Liverpool have already shown a willingness to spend what it takes to secure the best young defenders, announcing a £60 million deal for Jeremy Jacquet last winter that saw the Frenchman join in the summer.
Jacquet has been a huge success in Merseyside, and the Reds could even be tempted to repeat that trick and get a deal agreed for Jeltsch in the winter that would see him join in the summer of 2027.