Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen with Jeremie Frimpong
Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen with Jeremie Frimpong(Image: Jan Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Liverpool have been told they will have had one of their best transfer windows in recent memory if they conclude the signings of Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz - with the latter deal a sign of the Reds breaking new ground in the market. The Premier League champions are continuing to negotiate both moves having already snapped up Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for £29million this summer.
Negotiations are continuing with Leverkusen over a fee for 22-year-old attacking midfielder Wirtz, who has made clear he wants a move to Anfield. Their most recent bid is worth £113m in total with the Bundesliga side still holding out for £125m.
Liverpool are also in talks with Bournemouth over Kerkez, with the South Coast side valuing the player at £45m. Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is hoping to drive down the asking price of his former club.
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In total, it would take the Reds' outlay to approaching £200m as they look to improve on a squad that romped to the Premier League title last season in their first season under head coach Arne Slot.
And ex-Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison believes the title winners are lining up the ideal moves to go with their earlier contract agreements with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
"That would be one of the best windows for a long time," he said. "I mean, if you're a Liverpool fan and those three were in... Frimpong's already done. But if you had Wirtz and Kerkez signing on top of what you've already got, what a window that would be.
"And the other victory this window was keeping Mo Salah and keeping Van Dijk. Two special players that you know, just literally cannot replace. There might be something for the window after.
"There's been talk of Luis Diaz maybe moving on because he could bring in a lot of money, but I wouldn't sell him. I think he's a brilliant player and some of the best Liverpool performances I saw last season were when Diaz played as a false nine.
"Not only that, but by stopping there they still have room for their young stars to continue their progress. Slot showed that last season when he didn’t panic buy.
"He had the vision to say how do I buy better than Salah? Why would I want to bring in a centre-back when we’ve got Konate, Quansah, Van Dijk? Why bring a goalkeeper in when there’s Alisson and Kelleher, plus Mamardashvili coming?"
Speaking to Gambling Zone, Hutchison added: "Wirtz alone would feel like a signing that had never been on at Liverpool before. It’s never been their way to spend £100million-plus on a player. That’s some statement signing, even if it’s happening more often now than before.
"But Liverpool could land him and mostly just stick with what they’ve already got."