Latest news with #TomWerner
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool: Tom Werner promises 'busy summer' as thousands attend trophy parade
Liverpool celebrated their Premier League title in style today, with hundreds of thousands of fans flocking to Liverpool city centre to catch a glimpse of the 15km bus parade. The Reds romped to the title this season, sitting atop the table since early November as they confirmed the championship with four matches remaining. Fans are making up for lost time, as Liverpool's previous League title came after the 2019-20 season, meaning no parade could be held due to COVID-19 restrictions. The parade also serves as a final goodbye for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will leave the club as a free agent this summer after 20 years at Anfield. With the party not yet over, preparations are already well underway for next season. Liverpool are reported to be close to a pair of blockbuster signings in Bayer Leverkusen pair Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, with Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes today confirming that talks had taken place. Liverpool chairman Tom Werner also spoke during the parade, shedding more light on what could prove to be a busy summer. "It's already busy,' he said. "We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season.' Werner also paid tribute to the job Arne Slot has done, having been given the unenviable task of taking over from Jurgen Klopp. "It's extraordinary. We obviously had high hopes for this season but he has been an extraordinary coach," he added. "He is just an extraordinary leader. He's authentic, he's not trying to be anyone else. The team was an extraordinarily good team but he brought the best out of them." Also speaking from the roof of the bus, Curtis Jones hailed Liverpool as the 'best city in the world', while Slot said he was blown away by the fans' reception. 'It's by far the No1 moment in my career, beyond what you can expect and dream of,' said Slot. 'It's unbelievable, you cannot imagine what you see over here. 'Of course, I've won a few things before, beautiful, but this is... You cannot compare it with anything. Look them in the eyes, it's just what it feels to them. You can hardly imagine there are more citizens of Liverpool over there, there are so many people, you expect a few, but it's beyond my dreams." Liverpool will return to action in August in the Community Shield, where they will face FA Cup holders Crystal Palace. Additional reporting: PA
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Liverpool hold talks over €150m Florian Wirtz deal in ‘busy' summer plans
The Liverpool chair, Tom Werner, has confirmed the club's busy summer has already begun with the Premier League champions in talks over the record transfer of Florian Wirtz and close to wrapping up a deal for his Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong. Liverpool are favourites to sign Wirtz after he turned down a move to Bayern Munich and Manchester City pulled out of the running. Negotiations have started over a fee with Leverkusen, who want £126m (€150m) for the Germany international. That would comfortably eclipse Liverpool's record transfer, the £85m that brought Darwin Núñez from Benfica in 2022, but the club hope to structure a deal with Leverkusen accepting a lower initial fee plus achievable add-ons. Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, spent modestly during Arne Slot's successful debut season, signing only Federico Chiesa from Juventus, in a deal that could rise to £12m, and the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for £29m. The club are now in a position to spend heavily and there is hope inside Anfield that Wirtz and Frimpong, who has a £30m release clause, could be secured early in the summer transfer window. Werner, when asked if he expected a busy transfer window for the new champions, said: 'It's already busy.' He also said he expected the squad to be even stronger for the start of their title defence. 'We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season.' READ MORE Wirtz, who can play across the frontline, is one of the most coveted players in Europe and is understood to be impressed by Liverpool's plans. Frimpong has already passed a Liverpool medical and the arrival of the right-back, a close friend of Wirtz, should be confirmed when the window officially opens. The Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is another target for Liverpool. Slot said it would be ideal to have new signings in place early, with preseason scheduled to begin on July 8th. The Liverpool head coach said on Sunday: 'This club doesn't start [on transfers] after today or from today onwards. There is so much hard work already done behind the scenes this season to find out which targets we have and try to sign them. I have all the confidence that if we have addressed the right player, we try to sign that player but let's see when that is going to happen and if that's going to happen, because I'm very happy with the squad we already have.' Liverpool's transfer budget is expected to be increased by outgoings. Núñez, Chiesa, Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas and Ben Doak are among those who could leave this summer. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and former Liverpool legend Alan Hansen celebrate with the Premier League trophy. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, has revealed it was his idea to be presented with the Premier League trophy on Sunday by the former Liverpool captain and defender Alan Hansen. The 69-year-old was seriously ill last summer and received a rapturous reception when parading the trophy in front of the Kop alongside Van Dijk. The Liverpool captain said: 'I was very determined to make sure that he was going to be the one who handed the trophy to me. I am happy it worked out. I am also happy that Mark and Jo [McVeigh] from the Owen McVeigh Foundation, who I've worked with quite a lot over the last years, were able to also join in. 'Alan Hansen is one of the greatest centre-backs this club has ever seen. I'd met him before and had a little chat. He was ill last year. I'm glad he's looking well now. I was really happy for him that he also had his moment in front of the Kop because he totally deserved it.' Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United and Ajax coach, has been announced as Xabi Alonso's replacement at Bayer Leverkusen. After Alonso's departure to Real Madrid, with the Basque set to be unveiled on Monday, Leverkusen, who finished second in the Bundesliga this season, have alighted on the Dutchman sacked by United in October. The 55-year-old has signed a contract until 2027 and previously worked in German football as a coach at Bayern Munich. – Guardian
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool already 'busy' getting better for next season
Liverpool are planning to strengthen after winning the Premier League title (Paul ELLIS) Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said he is already busy working on improving the team for next season despite romping to the Premier League title. The Reds will parade the Premier League trophy through Liverpool city centre on Monday with tens of thousands expected to line the streets. Advertisement But attention has already turned to defending the trophy with the 20-time English champions reportedly close to a triple swoop costing around £200 million ($271 million). Jeremie Frimpong is finalising his move from Bayer Leverkusen as a replacement for the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Florian Wirtz has also chosen Anfield as his preferred destination, according to German media, should he move on from Leverkusen. Wirtz, 22, could smash the Premier League transfer record of £115 million set by Chelsea's capture of Moises Caicedo. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is also reportedly keen on a £50 million move to Liverpool. Advertisement "It's already busy," said Werner. "We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season." Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago. Federico Chiesa, who struggled to make an impact in his few first-team opportunities, remains the club's only signing of the Slot era. "It's extraordinary. We obviously had high hopes for this season but he has been an extraordinary coach," added Werner. Advertisement "I think there have been three coaches who have won the Premier League in their first season and Arne is one of them. He is just an extraordinary leader. "He's authentic, he's not trying to be anyone else. The team was an extraordinarily good team but he brought the best out of them." kca/pb
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool hold talks over record Florian Wirtz deal in ‘busy' summer plans
The Liverpool chairman, Tom Werner, has confirmed the club's busy summer has already begun with the Premier League champions in talks over the record transfer of Florian Wirtz and close to wrapping up a deal for his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong. Liverpool are favourites to sign the £126m-rated Wirtz after he turned down a move to Bayern Munich and Manchester City pulled out of the running. The Anfield club have started negotiations over a fee with Leverkusen, who want £126m for the Germany international. That would comfortably eclipse Liverpool's current record transfer, the £85m that brought Darwin Núñez from Benfica in 2022, but the club hope to structure a deal that would see Leverkusen accept a lower initial fee plus achievable add-ons. Related: Erik ten Hag returns to management as new Bayer Leverkusen head coach Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, spent modestly during Arne Slot's successful debut season, signing only Federico Chiesa from Juventus in a deal that could rise to £12m and the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for £29m. The club are now in a position to spend heavily on the right player and there is hope inside Anfield that both Wirtz and Frimpong, who has a £30m release clause, could be secured early in the summer transfer window. Werner, when asked if he expected a busy transfer window for the new champions, replied: 'It's already busy.' The chairman also said he expected Slot's squad to be even stronger for the start of their title defence. 'We go again. It never gets old, winning,' said Werner. 'We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season.' Wirtz, who can play across the front line, is one of the most coveted players in Europe and is understood to be impressed by Liverpool's plans. Frimpong has already passed a Liverpool medical and the arrival of the right-back, a close friend of Wirtz, should be confirmed when the window officially opens. The Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is another target for Liverpool. Slot said it would be ideal to have new signings in place early, with pre-season scheduled to begin on 8 July. The Liverpool head coach said on Sunday: 'This club doesn't start [on transfers] after today or from today onwards. There is so much hard work already done behind the scenes this season to find out which targets we have and try to sign them. I have all the confidence that if we have addressed the right player, we try to sign that player but let's see when that is going to happen and if that's going to happen, because I'm very happy with the squad we already have.' Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, has revealed it was his idea to be presented with the Premier League trophy on Sunday by the former Liverpool captain and defender Alan Hansen. The 69-year-old was seriously ill last summer and received a rapturous reception when parading the trophy in front of the Kop alongside Van Dijk. The Liverpool captain said: 'I was very determined to make sure that he was going to be the one who handed the trophy to me. Yes I did [suggest it]. I am happy it worked out. I am also happy that Mark and Jo [McVeigh] from the Owen McVeigh Foundation, who I've worked with quite a lot over the last years, were able to also join in. 'Alan Hansen is one of the greatest centre-backs this club has ever seen. I'd met him before and had a little chat. He was ill last year. I'm glad he's looking well now. I was really happy for him that he also had his moment in front of the Kop because he totally deserved it.'
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Liverpool hold talks over record Florian Wirtz deal in ‘busy' summer plans
The Liverpool chairman, Tom Werner, has confirmed the club's busy summer has already begun with the Premier League champions in talks over the record transfer of Florian Wirtz and close to wrapping up a deal for his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong. Liverpool are favourites to sign the £126m-rated Wirtz after he turned down a move to Bayern Munich and Manchester City pulled out of the running. The Anfield club have started negotiations over a fee with Leverkusen, who want £126m for the Germany international. That would comfortably eclipse Liverpool's current record transfer, the £85m that brought Darwin Núñez from Benfica in 2022, but the club hope to structure a deal that would see Leverkusen accept a lower initial fee plus achievable add-ons. Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, spent modestly during Arne Slot's successful debut season, signing only Federico Chiesa from Juventus in a deal that could rise to £12m and the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for £29m. The club are now in a position to spend heavily on the right player and there is hope inside Anfield that both Wirtz and Frimpong, who has a £30m release clause, could be secured early in the summer transfer window. Werner, when asked if he expected a busy transfer window for the new champions, replied: 'It's already busy.' The chairman also said he expected Slot's squad to be even stronger for the start of their title defence. 'We go again. It never gets old, winning,' said Werner. 'We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season.' Wirtz, who can play across the front line, is one of the most coveted players in Europe and is understood to be impressed by Liverpool's plans. Frimpong has already passed a Liverpool medical and the arrival of the right-back, a close friend of Wirtz, should be confirmed when the window officially opens. The Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is another target for Liverpool. Slot said it would be ideal to have new signings in place early, with pre-season scheduled to begin on 8 July. The Liverpool head coach said on Sunday: 'This club doesn't start [on transfers] after today or from today onwards. There is so much hard work already done behind the scenes this season to find out which targets we have and try to sign them. I have all the confidence that if we have addressed the right player, we try to sign that player but let's see when that is going to happen and if that's going to happen, because I'm very happy with the squad we already have.' Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, has revealed it was his idea to be presented with the Premier League trophy on Sunday by the former Liverpool captain and defender Alan Hansen. The 69-year-old was seriously ill last summer and received a rapturous reception when parading the trophy in front of the Kop alongside Van Dijk. The Liverpool captain said: 'I was very determined to make sure that he was going to be the one who handed the trophy to me. Yes I did [suggest it]. I am happy it worked out. I am also happy that Mark and Jo [McVeigh] from the Owen McVeigh Foundation, who I've worked with quite a lot over the last years, were able to also join in. 'Alan Hansen is one of the greatest centre-backs this club has ever seen. I'd met him before and had a little chat. He was ill last year. I'm glad he's looking well now. I was really happy for him that he also had his moment in front of the Kop because he totally deserved it.'
