On Stick to Football, Roy Keane bemoaned Liverpool for taking their foot off the gas well before the season has been wrapped up, for partying abroad ahead of a Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, a match they lost.
Well, Liverpool were crowned champions almost one month ago, having been head, shoulders and torso above the rest of the pack since the start of the season.
Arne Slot has achieved something truly special, and after upholding such high and inflexible standards across the lion's share of the year, can surely be afforded some leeway for loosening his grip with his deserving squad now relishing their new status as Premier League winners.
The truth is, Liverpool can do what they want, so long as they return fresher than ever for pre-season duties. Of course, one man who won't be taking his foot off the pedal is sporting director Richard Hughes, tasked with making sweeping changes in the transfer market this summer.
Jeremie Frimpong is on the brink of being announced as Trent Alexander-Arnold's replacement, and the man himself, The Athletic's David Ornstein, has issued an exciting revelation as Liverpool fight for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz.
The latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool
Bayern Munich and Liverpool have both pushed to sign Wirtz in recent weeks, laying the foundations ahead of the summer transfer window.
But, as Ornstein reveals, Liverpool have taken the lead in the race, with Die Roten swallowing a bitter pill in accepting Anfield looks the likely destination for the playmaker, should he leave Leverkusen this summer.
Wirtz-Leverkusen
In fact, the esteemed reporter has gone as far as to suggest the Bundesliga champions believe he will not join them this summer, and actually favours a move to Merseyside.
Manchester City no longer have a vested interest in the German, who is valued at €150m (£126m), and have instead shifted their attention to Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White.
Wirtz is only 22, but he's already got a case toward being the best midfield playmaker in the world, having posted 69 goal contributions for Die Werkself across the past two seasons, the first of which he won DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga titles undefeated, picking up the German Player of the Season award.
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz reacts after the match
If Liverpool can get this one over the line, they'd surely be favourites to win the Premier League once again next season. And that's without even considering a striker.
Darwin Nunez is set to be sold, and FSG have already made contact with their dream replacement.
Liverpool approach new striker
According to RMC Sport, Liverpool have made an initial approach to Eintracht Frankfurt for their star striker Hugo Ekitike, having also held talks with the player. Arsenal and Chelsea have also opened discussions, with the 22-year-old's club looking for a minimum fee of €80m (£68m) for his sale.
It's worth noting Chelsea have been singled out as the frontrunners due to their degree of interest, though their hopes of playing Champions League football hang in the balance ahead of Sunday's final round of fixtures.
And whether any suitor would be willing to meet Frankfurt's heavy valuation of their player, who is immensely talented but not the finished article, remains to be seen.
Why Liverpool should sign Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool's dream is to sign Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, but any move for the Sweden star seems unlikely this summer: Eddie Howe views him as untouchable and will be reinforced in his stance should the Magpies qualify for the Champions League.
However, Ekitike would be a stunning alternative, making headway this season as he sharpens his goalscoring sense while also bearing one of the more dynamic striking skill sets on the market right now.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
As per FBref, Ekitike ranks among the top 8% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues in 2024/25 for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, emphasising his athleticism and fast pace.
It also shows that Slot would get his hands on a new profile who could solve Liverpool's number nine conundrum, such as it is, while dynamising the frontline too, adding a player capable of supplementing Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, who both arc inwards to strike on goal in such deadly fashion.
Comparing Ekitike's Bundesliga campaign with the tired terms of Nunez and Diogo Jota in the Premier League, you begin to see why Slot so desperately wants a fresh profile, one who can enforce a sustained offensive as Liverpool chase down a range of trophies.
Ekitike vs Liverpool Centre-forwards (24/25)
League Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Shots (on target)*
Big chances missed
Pass completion
Big chances created
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Duels (won)*
Stats via Sofascore
Wirtz is good, but he's not superhuman, and if Liverpool don't address their striking issues the 22-year-old will struggle to find a focal point from which he can channel his playmaking skills, described by Hansi Flick as an "outstanding technician" who is "very creative."
Furthermore, his sharp transitional ability would combine wonderfully with Wirtz`s ball-playing game. Ekitike has only missed 16 big chances in the league this term, scoring 15 goals, as per Sofascore. He's been hailed for his "incredible" attacking performances by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.
Meanwhile, FBref record Wirtz to rank among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90.
Adding two new profiles to the team, Slot would be taking Liverpool to another level, maintaining a brilliant sense of creativity in spite of Alexander-Arnold's departure while solving the centre-forward conundrum that has plagued the club all year long.
Just imagine this Liverpool side with an out-and-out striker providing a prolific touch across the duration of the campaign, and supplied by a ten such as Wirtz at that.
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Liverpool are ready to defend their Premier League title by attacking the transfer market.