Liverpool may have wooed Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong with a touching gesture to Bayer Leverkusen last November. Way before both clubs were engaged in a series of transfer discussions this summer, they met in the league phase of the Champions League last winter.
A surprisingly comfortable 4-0 Liverpool victory on November 5 extended the Reds’ unbeaten start to the European campaign. Luis Diaz struck a hat-trick and Cody Gakpo scored on a memorable night at Anfield. Although bruised following a heavy defeat, Leverkusen’s players were wowed by a lovely move by Liverpool the very next day.
Most clubs travel straight home after a European away trip. However, Liverpool offered their AXA training centre facilities to Leverkusen the day after the game, allowing them to properly recover before heading home to Germany.
Leverkusen played Bochum four days after the Champions League clash, drawing 1-1 in an underwhelming away performance. New Liverpool right-back Frimpong could barely believe the state-of-the-art facilities.
He told Liverpool’s media team: “We came to the training ground after the match when we played against Liverpool, so I’ve seen it. What can I say? This is what every kid dreams of, facilities like this. I’m just blessed to be here.”
The gesture was likely prompted by Liverpool’s excellent relationship with Xabi Alonso, the former Reds midfielder who was Leverkusen head coach at the time. Alonso has since joined Real Madrid and will coach Trent Alexander-Arnold next season following the defender’s switch to the Spanish capital.
Wirtz might have been similarly impressed. Liverpool are widely expected to sign the attacking midfielder in a deal that, should it be completed, will involve a club-record fee.
A deal for Frimpong to arrive at Anfield as Alexander-Arnold’s replacement was completed earlier this month. However, talks remain ongoing over Wirtz. Leverkusen are insisting that Liverpool should pay their full valuation of £126m. The Reds’ latest offer is believed to have been around £113m.
Darwin Nunez’s 2022 transfer remains the highest fee Liverpool have paid for a player, with his move from Benfica costing up to a potential £85m. Incidentally, Nunez may move on from Merseyside after a tough season under Arne Slot.
According to Foot Mercato, Nunez is open to moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Cody Gakpo has also been linked with an exit, but denied knowing of any move while on international duty with the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are hopeful of wrapping up a deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. The Cherries are close to signing Rennes captain Adrien Truffert as the Hungary international’s replacement.