Here is a roundup of the top Liverpool news, gossip and transfer speculation from icfootballnews featuring the likes of Darwin Nunez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike that we think you may have missed…
LIVERPOOL striker Darwin Nunez has reached a verbal agreement to join Atletico Madrid this summer, according to reports in Spain.
The Reds’ deal to sign Nunez from Benfica in 2022 is worth £85m in total after add-ons, but he has really struggled to score the goals that many would have liked in one of the best attacks in world football, although his workrate has been praised on numerous occasions.
But there has been alot of speculation in the media that he is one player that Arne Slot would be open to letting go this summer, which has led to some stunning reports that Arsenal may be interested in getting some kind of transfer deal done.
But according to Cadena SER, Atletico have already spoken with Nunez and the Liverpool striker ‘has made it clear’ that he wants to join Diego Simeone’s side this summer.
The report adds that ‘everything has been discussed with the player’ and the only remaining issue for Atletico is to negotiate a transfer fee with Liverpool.
IcFootballnews View…
If the reports are true and Nunez is leaving Liverpool this transfer window, it is probably the right decision to make as the amount of bad headlines he gets in the British media will only bring him down.
La Liga is probably the best type of league for the man as he will get many more chances to score. It could be a very good move for him to make.
This summer will allow Arne Slot to get a few more players in that will help take LIVERPOOL to another level, he needs to make sure he adds another striker to the attack that can score goals to help out Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, as they may not have the season that they have just had.
FLORIAN WIRTZ CLAIMED MADE…
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann believes Florian Wirtz would be making a ‘very good step’ in his career by joining LIVERPOOL, as the young attacker closes in on a move to Anfield.
Wirtz has scored 57 goals in 197 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen and last season won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the German Super Cup with the club under Xabi Alonso.
Liverpool have muscled their way to the front of the queue and Wirtz has reportedly ‘given his word’ to the newly crowned Premier League champions, with Bayern’s president appearing to confirm the rumour on Sunday.
‘Max Eberl (Bayern’s director of sport) informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool,’ Herbert Hainer said.
‘We’ll provide you with facts at some point and not with further speculation. You are responsible for that.’
Given the importance of the decision, Wirtz reached out to Nagelsmann for some advice on his next steps: ‘He texted me. We exchanged a few messages,’ Germany manager Nagelsmann told Sky Sport Deutschland.
‘I tried to give him tips to the best of my knowledge and belief, but I told him I can’t make the decision for him because my opinion is not necessarily the right one. The final decision is his.
‘I didn’t rule out any club, I just tried to explain things to him and give him tips.
‘I’m excited to find out about his decision. We always hear that things are done. It was also said with Bayern before that it was done. Let’s wait.
According to Nagelsmann, the ‘great environment’ Arne Slot has created at LIVERPOOL would be a good fit for Wirtz: ‘You can look at it from different points of view. In the end, every player has to decide for himself,’ the ex-Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig manager added.
‘It’s not official, but if it’s Liverpool, then it’d be a very good step because he can play in his position, a great environment, great club.
‘Bayern wouldn’t have been a bad option either. It would’ve been good to have them [Wirtz and Musiala] playing together, but Jamal and Flo can get on well together even if they’re not at the same club.
‘The most important thing is that he plays and continues to develop. If he feels that he would be better off at Liverpool, then he has to do it.’
LIVERPOOL HOLD EKITIKE TALKS
LIVERPOOL have entered the race with Chelsea to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, according to reports in Germany as they seek to find a ready-made replacement for the departing Darwin Nunez.
The Reds’ deal to sign Nunez from Benfica in 2022 is worth £85m in total after add-ons, but he has really struggled to score the goals that many would have liked in one of the best attacks in world football, although his workrate has been praised on numerous occasions.
But there has been alot of speculation in the media that he is one player that Arne Slot would be open to letting go this summer, which has led to some stunning reports that Arsenal may be interested in getting some kind of transfer deal done.
But according to Cadena SER, Atletico have already spoken with Nunez and the Liverpool striker ‘has made it clear’ that he wants to join Diego Simeone’s side this summer.
22-year-old Ekitike has just finished his first full season at Frankfurt, scoring 22 goals in 48 appearances for the Bundesliga side, and it has been claimed in the media that Liverpool are one of the clubs that have reportedly held talks over a potential transfer deal.
Speaking on the final day of the Bundesliga season, Frankfurt’s sporting director, Markus Krosche, refused to rule out the prospect of selling Ekitike this summer.
‘He’s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that,’ Krosche told Sport 1.
‘I’m glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that’s our motto – if a player develops faster than us, we let him go.’
IcFootballnews Says…
Ekitike would be joining one of the best sides in world football, the best in the Premier League and an attack that would give him many more chances to score, it would be a dream move for the lad.
It is a big step to make, and one that hopefully works out if he makes it as he has the potential to be world class.
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