Liverpool are hoping to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer
Liverpool are hoping to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer
Liverpool’s summer transfer plans appear to be taking shape, and no deal would be bigger than the one they’re hoping to conclude for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
The latest development, which emerged on Friday night, confirmed that the Reds have submitted a third and improved offer to their Bundesliga counterparts. The bid, believed to be in the region of £113m, consists of £100m up front, with the remaining £13m made up of achievable, performance-related add-ons.
Whether that offer has been accepted by Leverkusen is not yet clear, but reports in Germany suggest an agreement is edging ever closer. Assuming a deal for Wirtz does get over the line, however, there are still other areas of the Liverpool squad that need addressing before pre-season kicks off in July - with decisions required on as many as 10 players...
The left-back question
One such area is left-back. Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez has emerged as the leading target, and speculation has intensified over the last 24 hours following his withdrawal from international duty with Hungary due to 'private reasons'.
What those reasons are remains speculative at best, though he did miss their 2-0 defeat to Sweden on Friday evening due to a minor injury. As things stand, Liverpool are reportedly yet to make a formal offer to Bournemouth, who are said to be seeking around £45m for the 21-year-old.
There is optimism across most reporting on this transfer that a deal will be done, with the player’s desire to join Liverpool cited frequently. The timeline remains unclear, so supporters will have to remain patient as they wait for further updates.
One thing is for certain - if Kerkez is to arrive, Liverpool will likely need to move on one of their existing left-backs, either Andy Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas. If reports are to be believed, it will most likely be the latter, given Robertson’s senior status within the squad and his potential to command a slightly higher fee.
One out, one in
Beyond Kerkez, it appears much of Liverpool’s remaining business will depend on outgoings, which are expected to ramp up once the second transfer window opens on June 16. In addition to decisions on fringe players such as Ben Doak, Jayden Danns, Stefan Bajcetic, and Tyler Morton, several first-team players also face uncertain futures.
Chief among them is Darwin Nunez, arguably the most high-profile player expected to depart. While links to the Saudi Pro League have cooled in recent days, it remains to be seen whether any other clubs come forward with a serious bid.
Darwin Nunez faces an uncertain future at Liverpool (Image: Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Should Nunez be sold, Liverpool will almost certainly re-enter the market for a striker. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is a name that continues to crop up in reports, but his high price tag and strong interest from Chelsea make that a complicated deal to pull off.
Otherwise, Liverpool’s striker shortlist remains something of a mystery, with few firm links beyond Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who the Magpies will be desperate to keep.
Luis Diaz is another uncertainty, amid persistent interest from Barcelona. However, Liverpool have little desire or need to sell the Colombian, who has been an integral part of Slot’s plans over the past 12 months.
Only a substantial offer would bring Liverpool to the negotiating table - and rightly so, considering that a suitable replacement would likely cost upwards of £70m. Still, it’s a situation worth watching as the window drags on.
Finally, there's the question of whether any clubs step up their interest in Jarell Quansah. After a promising breakthrough in 2023/24, the 22-year-old has arguably taken a slight step backwards over the past year. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool would consider offers, or even feel they can upgrade in that position.
Konate contract
Aside from incomings and outgoings, one issue every Liverpool fan is eager to see resolved before another ball is kicked is Ibrahima Konate’s contract.
There is growing concern that a situation similar to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid could be unfolding again. That fear has only been fuelled by ongoing reports in Spain suggesting the La Liga giants hope to sign the Frenchman on a free transfer next summer.
Tying Konate down to a new and improved deal will be crucial in ensuring Slot’s side enter the new season without any lingering doubts over one of their most important players. While the speculation surrounding , Virgil van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold may not have seriously impacted performances on the pitch last season, it’s certainly a sideshow Liverpool would be better off avoiding this time around.