Arne Slot is gearing up for a summer of change at Liverpool with the Reds being one of the most active teams in the transfer market thus far.
Despite being so dominant throughout the 2024-25 Premier League season, there are still a couple of areas within the Anfield outfit’s ranks that could do with bolstering.
Jeremie Frimpong has already come in to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in what was likely Liverpool’s priority position to strengthen this summer.
Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Other names have also been thrown into the ring such as Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez but nothing concrete has yet come to fruition.
And, before all the rumours started, there was one player who was heavily linked with an Anfield switch after their impressive 2024-25 campaign.
Arne Slot cut his holiday short to meet Rayan Cherki regarding a Liverpool move
Rayan Cherki has been a hot topic throughout the 2024-25 season with many of Europe’s elite being linked with the Frenchman.
And, as per a fresh report from The Athletic, it seems that Liverpool were in the race for the number 10 as late as last week as Arne Slot ‘left his holiday’ to test the waters with the attacking midfielder.
The Dutchman flew over to France in order to ‘meet’ with the 22-year-old regarding a potential move to Anfield.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
The report also adds that Liverpool are doing their ‘due diligence’ on other options, in case things go south with their move for Florian Wirtz.
A move for Cherki is set to cost around £33.7million according to L’Equipe with the Ligue 1 outfit adamant that he wouldn’t be sold for a cut-rate fee.
Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Liverpool are ‘committed’ to Florian Wirtz this summer
Wirtz’s future has also been a hot topic in the footballing world over the last few weeks.
The German has earned interest from the likes of Manchester City and Bayern Munich over the last month or so but it seems that Liverpool is where he’s chosen to take the next steps of his career.
In the same report from The Athletic, the online outlet shares that the Reds are ‘preparing for all outcomes’ despite being ‘committed’ to the transfer of Wirtz this summer.
Player Games Goals Assists
Florian Wirtz 45 16 15
Rayan Cherki 44 12 20
The 2024-25 seasons of Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki in numbers.
The discussions between Slot and the Frenchman were ‘scheduled’ before talks with Wirtz had accelerated but with Liverpool’s focus now mainly on Wirtz, Cherki seems likely to move elsewhere.
Manchester City are the latest team linked with Cherki but in the grand scheme of things, it feels like Liverpool have got the much better end of the stick, especially if they can bring in the German.
Only time will tell whether the decision Slot has made is correct, but on the face of things, it certainly feels like the Dutchman has.