Liverpool are closing in on a blockbuster move that will see German international Florian Wirtz trade Leverkusen for Merseyside. Having turned down a transfer to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, the 22-year-old could complete his Anfield switch as early as this week, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds are moving quickly in the transfer market after securing a 20th English top-flight trophy during Arne Slot's first season at the club. Jeremie Frimpong is all but confirmed as Trent Alexander-Arnold's replacement at right-back, while Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is strongly linked with a move to Liverpool.
jeremie frimpong bayer leverkusen Related
Jeremie Frimpong to Take Liverpool Shirt Number That Hasn't Been Used in 10 Years
Frimpong is set to join Liverpool this summer - and he will reportedly be given a number that only been worn by a handful of players.
There's still plenty of work to be done before Liverpool fans flood the club shop to pick up a Wirtz shirt. However, the number on the back of those kits has already been anticipated in the event he does seal his huge transfer to the Premier League giants.
Florian Wirtz's Expected Liverpool Number
German set to be denied his dream shirt
Wirtz is extremely unlikely to be able to continue using the number 10 shirt he currently occupies at Bayer Leverkusen. This is because Argentine midfield maestro Alexis Mac Allister dons that number for the Premier League champions.
With the ex-Brighton star not expected to go anywhere, Wirtz is expected to revert to his old squad number at Leverkusen. Upon his 2020 arrival at the club, Wirtz took up the 27 shirt, which is currently available at Anfield.
Taking into account the shirt numbers already taken by current Liverpool squad members, it's a safe bet to assume Wirtz could take up the number most recently worn by Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez. If he does, supporters will be hoping he can be the first true star to don the number for the Merseysiders.
Liverpool's Previous Number 27s
Darwin Nunez and Divock Origi both wore the unusual number
Per Transfermarkt, only seven players have ever worn the 27 at Anfield. The first man to take the squad number was goalkeeper Mark Gayle in the 1993/94 campaign. The shot-stopper only spent one season on loan from Crewe Alexandra, but never made a first-team appearance.
Next up was another 'keeper - Stephen Pears - who also failed to play a single match for the club. Haukur Ingi Gudnason was the third man to be given the number, but also the third to never play for the Reds.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Darwin Nunez. Related
Liverpool's 2024/25 Squad Ranked
Liverpool's 2024/25 squad has been ranked ahead of the summer transfer window, and many players could face uncertain futures.
This means the first time the adoring Kop actually saw the shirt number in action was when French defender Gregory Vignal joined in 2000. The left-back, who had an inconsistent spell in England, was followed by Swiss full-back Philipp Degen, who had a similar time at the club.
Divock Origi - who scored several vital goals under Jurgen Klopp, including in the 2019 Champions League final - was the most successful 27 in the club's history. The Belgian scored 41 times for the Reds before Darwin Nunez took over the shirt for his underwhelming debut campaign in England.