Liverpool told to switch focus to 'perfect' transfer once Florian Wirtz deal completed
Liverpool saw transfer "deadline day" come and go without any agreement on Florian Wirtz. Fortunately, the next window was only a week away — and not only do the Reds expect to wrap up a deal for the Bayer Leverkusen star in due course, they could also be busy with further business.
Advertisement
Things certainly seem to be moving in the right direction with Wirtz. One of Arne Slot's camp has broken the collective silence for the first time, with Andy Robertson acknowledging that the playmaker is a "top player".
And all reports indicate that Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen are ironing out the finest details now. In an unrelated deal, but one which no doubt provides an incentive to work together toward a mutually beneficial outcome, the Bundesliga side is also taking an interest in Jarell Quansah.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez latest, Alexander-Arnold presentation
READ MORE: Barcelona chief makes fresh transfer admission after Liverpool rebuffed Luis Diaz approach
Advertisement
He's one of numerous players who could end up leaving Anfield this summer. Harvey Elliott faces an uncertain future after a tough first campaign under Slot, while the same could be said of Darwin Nunez, Joe Gomez, and a couple of others.
The departure of Nunez, in particular, could yet push Liverpool into the market for another marquee deal after Wirtz is wrapped up. While the German has played as a number nine, it's anticipated that he will arrive in order to add creativity a little further back, potentially still leaving Slot in need of a new forward.
Nunez has been persistently linked with the Saudi league, which may yet give Liverpool an unlikely chance to recoup a significant chunk of its initial outlay. That would give the club some handy headroom for a second swing at finding the long-term solution at number nine, this time with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards leading the process.
Solid links have been reasonably thin on the ground. Hugo Ekitike's name has been mentioned more than once, while Julian Alvarez did the rounds about a month ago, but nothing concrete has emerged.
Advertisement
And now Ally McCoist has urged Liverpool to go in a different direction altogether. He has hailed Victor Osimhen as "absolutely perfect" for Slot's side.
Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray gestures during the Turkish Super League match between Galatasaray and Kayserispor on May 18, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. -Credit:'I think Osimhen would be absolutely perfect at somewhere like Liverpool," McCoist eulogized on talkSPORT. "I think he'd be unbelievable at Liverpool."
The Nigerian striker is fresh off the back of an unlikely loan spell at Galatasaray. Relations broke down with Napoli to such an extent that Osimhen seized one of the few remaining options late in the window last summer, but he still looks every inch the elite forward.
Advertisement
Unsurprisingly, he is widely expected to move on a permanent basis this summer. Saudi sides have taken an interest in him, too, but he is thought to prefer the Premier League.
And GiveMeSport claims that Osimhen has been mentioned in a "high-level meeting" at Liverpool. However, the likeliest current outcome is that the 26-year-old elects to remain with Galatasaray.
Meanwhile, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal are all also looking to strengthen in the center-forward position. They may be contemplating giving Osimhen a route to the Premier League as well.
So a deal that looks opportunistic (and apparently even "perfect") on its face may yet prove to be a little more complicated, especially once Osimhen's potential wage demands are factored in. But a striker of his caliber in front of Wirtz is certainly an appealing prospect — and with plenty of twists and turns expected once the second transfer window opens, it is sure to be an exciting summer at Liverpool.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool agree British record £116m fee for Florian Wirtz
Liverpool have agreed a British record fee of €136.3million (£116m) to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz. The two teams have reached a final agreement on the transfer fee following productive talks. Wirtz will sign a five-year deal with the Premier League champions, in a transfer that represents a club record and potential new British record figure. Advertisement Liverpool will pay an initial fee of £100m for the 22-year-old, that could rise to £16m with add-ons if clauses are met. It eclipses the previous club-record £75m deal that took Virgil van Dijk to Anfield from Southampton in 2018. Should the clauses be met, the deal will also eclipse Moises Caicedo's £115m British record move to Chelsea from Brighton. Wirtz will become Liverpool's second signing of the summer from the German side, following the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong. He arrives having established a reputation as one of Europe's best young talents, earning back-to-back Bundesliga Player of the Year awards. Wirtz was an integral part of Leverkusen's maiden title success in 2023/24, as the club won their first-ever league title under former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. In the process, Leverkusen became Germany's first champions to lift the Bundesliga without losing a game. Advertisement Last season, Wirtz scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 matches across all competitions. Across Europe's top five leagues, he is one of just two players to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists in each of the last two league seasons, alongside Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Liverpool have seen off competition from Bayern Munich and Manchester City to sign Wirtz. The formalities of the transfer will be completed upon his return from holiday. Read – Florian Wirtz: What will record-breaker bring to Liverpool? See more – Club World Cup: Six iconic veterans set to star this summer Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Germany's Sané believes in World Cup chance despite Galatasaray move
German football player Leroy Sane arrives at the airport in Istanbul and is greeted by fans. Murat Akbas/dpa Winger Leroy Sané is confident that his place in the German national team is not under threat after his move from Bayern Munich to Galatasaray. Sané said he will have plenty of opportunities "to present myself at a high level" at the Turkish champions, with making the German squad for next year's World Cup his big aim. Advertisement "I must perform strongly and definitely want to be at the 2026 World Cup," he said. "I can understand the discussion but we should just wait and see. I moved to the clear number one in Turkey and want to take an absolute leadership role. We are definitely playing Champions League and have ambitious goals there as well." Sané, 29, has won 70 Germany caps. He signed for Galatasaray on Thursday after five years in Munich where his contract ends on June 30 and renewal talks collapsed. Sané said that the exchange with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is important for him. "I have appreciated this exchange a lot up to now and I am convinced that will continue to be the case," he said.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What FSG think about Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes' SENSATIONAL Florian Wirtz offer
Liverpool are locked in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over the signing of playmaker Florian Wirtz. The 22-year-old is widely expected to become a new Liverpool player in the near future with negotiations ongoing over the exact structure of the fee. Leverkusen are reported to be holding out for a maximum value of £126m but Liverpool are not content to pay all of it. Advertisement That's why talks in recent days are said to have been conducted over additional payments - which will end up making up a percentage of the overall fee paid for Wirtz. The 2023/24 Bundesliga champions are already reported to have turned down TWO bids from Liverpool that fell short of the mark. That said, sporting director Richard Hughes and FSG CEO of Football Michael Edwards are still expected to walk away from this high-stakes poker game with the biggest prize. FSG BLOWN AWAY by Hughes and Edwards And in a new report from TBR Football it's been revealed what Hughes and Edwards' paymasters at Fenway Sports Group think about these negotiations. Advertisement FSG have RARELY splashed out like this at Liverpool - reserving the majority of their big spending for the Boston Red Sox. But club bosses are said to be DELIGHTED at how talks are progressing for Wirtz - who will become the most expensive-ever signing in English football history. 'I really can't explain just how happy Liverpool are behind the scenes with this deal. FSG, the club's owners, are blown away by the work of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes – those two have put so much work into this move, not just this month but the lead-up to it also,' transfer expert Graeme Bailey said. © IMAGO - John Henry FSG Reds are flexing their muscle 'Liverpool are the Premier League's best on the field, and it's hard to argue they are the best off the field now too.' Advertisement Liverpool under Hughes have largely sat out the transfer windows up until now. They signed Federico Chiesa last summer and added Giorgi Mamardashvili while allowing him to stay on loan at Valencia. There were no signings, meanwhile, in the January window. Allied with sales including Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho, it gave Liverpool a significant budget heading into this summer. With Premier League-winning prize money, increased Champions League participation fees, new sponsorships secured, a new stand providing more matchday income and a fresh kit deal with Adidas, the future is certainly looking rosy for the Reds - who are about to flex their muscles in the market.