Liverpool are advancing in talks to sign Florian Wirtz despite their club-record £109 million bid yet to be accepted by Bayer Leverkusen.
Wirtz remains Liverpool’s No 1 target this summer. They are also negotiating to sign Milos Kerkez, and have agreed an £18 million deal with Brentford for Caoimhin Kelleher.
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Arne Slot, the Liverpool manager, has identified Wirtz as a priority acquisition as he prepares to defend the Premier League title next season and there is an expectation that a transfer can be agreed this week.
Kerkez, the Bournemouth left-back, is another target and discussions have been held over a deal potentially worth up to £40 million for the Hungary international.
Milos Kerkez
Liverpool are also working on a deal to acquire left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth - PA/Adam Davy
At this stage, Bournemouth are adopting a hardline stance on Kerkez’s sale and player terms have yet to be agreed with Liverpool.
Kerkez told Hungarian channel MLSZ TV: “I think it’s normal that if you play well and the team does well, then you get into the news and end up on the front page, and everyone talks about you.
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“I see this as fuel that drives me forward. All this doesn’t break me, but it doesn’t ‘boost’ my ego either, but it teaches me humility and motivates me.”
Jeremie Frimpong became Liverpool’s first signing of what is expected to be a busy summer for the champions, joining for a fee of about £29.5million from Leverkusen.
Frimpong’s arrival was confirmed just hours after Liverpool announced that Trent Alexander-Arnold would be signing for Real Madrid early in order to play at the Club World Cup.
Caoimhin Kelleher
Caoimhin Kelleher will cost Brentford £18 million - Shutterstock/Adam Vaughan
Liverpool are also working on potential sales and Kelleher, the Republic of Ireland international, is poised to join Brentford in his pursuit of regular first-team football.
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Brentford have verbally agreed a package of around £18 million and Kelleher will replace Mark Flekken as the club’s new No 1 goalkeeper. Flekken has a deal agreed with Leverkusen and will leave Brentford after two seasons.
Harvey Elliot is also expected to leave Anfield this summer, with a number of Premier League clubs intent on signing him.
Elliot is in line to appear for Lee Carsley’s England Under-21s at this summer’s European Championship and could attract greater interest if he impresses in the competition.
Liverpool secured the league title in Slot’s first season, finishing 10 points ahead of nearest challengers Arsenal, and are determined to strengthen their squad significantly ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.