Latest news with #Merseysiders
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Trent Alexander-Arnold dream dashed by little-known rule after Liverpool exit
Trent Alexander-Arnold is now set to become a Real Madrid player after they stumped up £10million to sign him early, but he won't be able to take his Liverpool shirt number with him The No. 66 shirt Trent Alexander-Arnold has worn his entire club career will not be available for him at Real Madrid. From joining Liverpool as a child to winning the Champions League and two Premier League titles, the right-back has worn the unique number on his back. It has been announced that Real Madrid have agreed a £10million deal to sign Alexander-Arnold, 26, a month early. This was done to ensure he will be able to compete in the Club World Cup for Xabi Alonso's team. His deal at Anfield was not due to expire until June 30, but he will be unveiled by the La Liga giants on June 1. However, when he poses with his new Real Madrid shirt, he will not have his familiar No. 66 on the back. This is because La Liga rules forbid players from wearing a shirt number with anything higher than No. 25 on the back. The only players who can wear numbers that exceed that figure are youth players. At present, Alexander-Arnold's new defensive colleague Raul Asencio has been permitted to wear the No. 35. Only the numbers No. 12, No. 24 and No. 25 are currently available. The No. 2 jersey, which is often worn by a side's first-choice right-back, is currently occupied by Real veteran Dani Carvajal. However, the No. 10, No. 17 and No. 18 jerseys, worn by Luka Modric, Lucas Vasquez and Jesus Vallejo, could all become free, as the trio's contracts are expiring this summer. Modric's exit has already been confirmed, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder leaving after the Club World Cup. Alexander-Arnold has agreed a six-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2031. His deal will also include a mammoth buy-out clause of €1bn (£840m). On May 5, he confirmed that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of his deal, soon after the Reds won the Premier League. While his boyhood club weren't expected to receive any compensation due to the Bosman ruling, Liverpool have been able to profit from Real Madrid's desire to include him in the Club World Cup. It's understood that Real Madrid will pay the Merseysiders £8.4m with the total package being worth £10m after paying the defender's salary for the final month of his contract. He was greeted with a lot of hostility by Liverpool fans when the announcement was made. When he came on from the bench in the Reds' subsequent 2-2 draw against Arsenal, boos and jeers were audible around Anfield. On the final game of the campaign, when Liverpool drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace, the reception Alexander-Arnold got was improved. As he said goodbye to the supporters, he was overcome with emotion and could be seen crying with his family on the pitch. He will have some time to get to know some of his new surroundings before he makes his debut. On June 18, Real Madrid face Al-Hilal in the group stage of the Club World Cup, before further clashes against Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Liverpool submit £109MILLION transfer bid for Florian Wirtz with Bayer Leverkusen star convinved to join by Arne Slot
The midfielder is also wanted by Manchester City GOING WITH THE FLO GOING WITH THE FLO Liverpool submit £109MILLION transfer bid for Florian Wirtz with Bayer Leverkusen star convinved to join by Arne Slot Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIVERPOOL have tabled a a fresh bid for Florian Wirtz, it's been claimed. The Reds identified the German international as a summer target following his second straight stellar season with Bayer Leverkusen. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Liverpool have reportedly made a second bid for Florian Wirtz Credit: Getty They've moved quickly to try to acquire his services, tabling a bid for him earlier this month. Their initial approach was rebuffed but, according to reports, they've since made a new bid for the 22-year-old. That's according to The Athletic, who claim the Merseysiders have bid a whopping £109 million for the midfielder. It's also claimed Wirtz is "keen" swap Leverkusen for Merseyside. Kop chief Arne Slot is said to have had a huge role in the German setting his sights on Anfield move. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Liverpool submit £109MILLION transfer bid for Florian Wirtz with Bayer Leverkusen star convinved to join by Arne Slot
LIVERPOOL have tabled a a fresh bid for Florian Wirtz, it's been claimed. The Reds identified the German international as a summer target following his second straight stellar season with Bayer Leverkusen. 1 Liverpool have reportedly made a second bid for Florian Wirtz Credit: Getty They've moved quickly to try to acquire his services, tabling a bid for him earlier this month. Their initial approach was rebuffed but, according to reports, they've since made a new bid for the 22-year-old. That's according to The Athletic, who claim the Merseysiders have bid a whopping £109 million for the midfielder. It's also claimed Wirtz is "keen" swap Leverkusen for Merseyside. Kop chief Arne Slot is said to have had a huge role in the German setting his sights on Anfield move. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Arne Slot hints Frimpong and Wirtz signings are IMMINENT
Liverpool's 2024/25 season is OVER and it has concluded with the Reds as Premier League champions. But that doesn't mean head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are standing still. Despite wrapping up the club's 20th top-flight title in emphatic fashion, the Merseysiders are making plans to upgrade their squad. Advertisement Slot won the title having added only Federico Chiesa to the squad last summer for the campaign ahead. His achievement was conducted using largely the squad left to him by Jurgen Klopp. But there are so many moving parts at Anfield right now - in terms of potential incomings and outgoings - that changes are now inevitable. Liverpool negotiating for Frimpong and Wirtz Don't expect the Reds to be completing last-minute deadline-day deals at the end of the summer. The sun has barely set on the season but Slot is already making plans to accommodate his new arrivals. Jeremie Frimpong would appear to be imminent, with Richard Hughes activating his Bayer Leverkusen release clause. Advertisement And club-mate Florian Wirtz is another firmly in Liverpool's sights with the German international now said to be keen on swapping the Bundesliga for Anfield. Liverpool's players and staff are now on holiday but by the time they reconvene for preseason the plan is to have new signings - potentially including Frimpong and Wirtz - in place. We want them "as early as you can" That's according to Arne Slot, who wants to wrap up any new signings as soon as possible. 'We just want good players,' the head coach said according to Mail Online journalist Lewis Steele. 'Ideally you sign them as early as you can. This club doesn't start working on transfers from today, there has already been so much hard work done on targets.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Didi Hamann slams Liverpool player who 'could be biggest transfer mistake in club's history'
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has adjudged Darwin Nunez to "maybe" be the worst transfer mistake in the club's history - with the forward's future at Anfield uncertain. The Uruguayan striker represented a record signing from the Merseysiders when he arrived from Benfica for a fee rising to €85.00m ($97 million) in the summer of 2023. However, the attacker has experienced a mixed three-year spell with the Reds, with his stay having been beset by a wastefulness in front of goal and an inconsistent strike rate. The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League in January and Spanish giant Atletico Madrid has been mentioned as potentially harboring an interest in his services. Now, after Nunez scored just five times in 30 appearances this season, ex-Liverpool star Hamann has called on his former employers to call time on his stay. READ MORE: Mohamed Salah admits Saudi Arabia transfer talks as Liverpool contract truth emerges READ MORE: Alisson mocks Ryan Gravenberch and 5 more things you might have missed in Liverpool celebrations Speaking to Betting Lounge, the retired German international gave a damning appraisal of the forward's performances over the past three seasons. Assessing his impact at Anfield, he said: "Is Darwin Nunez the biggest transfer mistake in Liverpool's history? Maybe, it's just part of the game. "When you bring players in, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. People probably thought, myself included, if you bring somebody in for £85million, it guarantees you goals, but looking back it wasn't money well spent. Urging Reds chiefs to cash-in on the striker, he continued: "Now you need to see how much you recoup. Maybe one of the Saudi clubs comes and you get your money back. The other thing is, we shouldn't forget that he's been part of a title winning side. He played his part as much as everybody else. "He was part of the team. He contributed maybe not as much as others, but sometimes it's easier to swallow when you bring a player in like him, when the team is still successful regardless. Either way, Hamann is relieved that Liverpool has found success in the form of the Premier League title - despite Nunez misfiring in front of goal this term. He added: "I think it's a very good sign for the state Liverpool is in at the moment to bring in a forward in for a lot of money and he doesn't score many goals, but you're still winning." Meanwhile, Reds head coach Arne Slot has acknowledged that he is now determined to ensure his players make a solid attempt at defending their crown next season. He said: "Hopefully that appetite will be big but we will see this when pre-season starts and when we start again. "A few of them have already shown that they can win multiple times. I'm talking about the ones that have won the league and the Champions League here before and these are also the players that just keep on performing year after year after year, even if they don't win it. "A few of them now won the league for the first time and they have to show that they have the same mentality as the ones that have won it here before. He added: "I'm looking forward to being part of that. We know it's going to be tough again. It was already very tough this season. It's going be probably just as tough or even tougher next season because the club that we've competed with this season have in every window always invested a lot of money and they're probably going to do so this summer as well."
