Liverpool is pushing ahead with a move for Florian Wirtz, the 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder, but other options were considered before the Germany playmaker emerged as the number one target.
It was initially thought that Bayern Munich was the favorite to land Wirtz, and then Manchester City was in the running too. Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso heading to Spain, could have been another possibility.
But Liverpool has eventually put itself in the driving seat and negotiations are ongoing to get a deal done with the player having seemingly chosen Anfield. Lyon's Rayan Cherki, though, who Manchester City is also chasing, was another option supposedly considered.
Indeed, according to The Athletic, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot broke away from his holiday last week to speak with Cherki. The talks were scheduled before the move for Wirtz developed, and if that is the case, he could have been an alternative.
Cherki excelled this season, scoring 12 goals and assisting 20. More importantly, in terms of playing for Slot or Pep Guardiola, though, he has developed a lot in terms of his out-of-possession work, according to Thierry Henry.
"This season, he has shown that he knows how to do what is expected of him without the ball," Henry told L'Equipe last month. "His problem was that he had never been able to play a string of matches to show what an extraordinary player he is.
Rayan Cherki celebrates
(Image: OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)
"But to play a string of matches, he had to do things defensively throughout the duration of a match. This season, he did it, so he played a string of matches.
"For me, we’re talking about a guy who should have been battling with the others, at the very top, for a long time to see who is the best. He fell behind because it took him a while to understand."
Dominik Szoboszlai has been the man to play the number 10 role under Slot this season. The Hungarian brings almost unlimited energy in the center of the pitch — as does Wirtz.
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"I think he’s been very, very important for us the whole season," Slot said of Szoboszlai in February. "Again today [against Newcastle], maybe people talk about his goal, which they should because it was an important goal and a good goal.
"But I think what helped the team even more than him scoring a goal was the amount of times he wins the second ball, he wins the ball back for us. He runs for two players, so that probably deserves more credit than him scoring a goal.
"But it’s nice that he starts scoring goals as well, because that in the end is also what you need to do if you are an attacking midfielder that wears the Liverpool shirt."
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz is a natural runner who will bring lots of energy to the Liverpool team should that deal be done. Cherki seems to have it now, but it hasn't always been a part of his game. He should be a success wherever he goes next.