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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool 2025/26 lineup prediction with Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz included
Liverpool is sparing no expense in bolstering the squad ahead of defending the Premier League title in the 2025/26 season. Last week, Virgil van Dijk hoisted the trophy at Anfield after the Reds secured a 1-1 draw with FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. While Liverpool celebrated with the fans before ugly scenes ensued, Arne Slot and Richard Hughes are firmly focused on the transfer market. Advertisement On Friday, Jeremie Frimpong signed for Liverpool, with the Bayer Leverkusen star replacing Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool triggered Frimpong's $39.2 million (£29.5m) release clause to complete the deal; Frimpong scored 30 goals and tallied 44 assists in 190 appearances for the Bundesliga club. READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Florian Wirtz mega offer, Luis Diaz 'talks', Jeremie Frimpong confirmed READ MORE: Bayer Leverkusen sends cryptic Florian Wirtz social media post as Liverpool transfer edges closer Frimpong may not be the only player to switch from Leverkusen to Liverpool amid Florian Wirtz rumors. After a hectic week, Liverpool appears in pole position to secure the German international's services. Advertisement Wirtz reportedly has his heart set on a move to Anfield, while the Reds are locked in advanced negotiations to complete the blockbuster move. The 22-year-old would represent a marquee signing, and Slot isn't stopping there. Milos Kerkez, the Bournemouth left-back who starred for the Cherries this season, is another heavily linked name. With the addition of Frimpong, Kerkez, and Wirtz to their roster next season, Liverpool is preparing to field a formidable XI that could strike fear into its competitors. Despite the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili this summer following a transfer agreed upon last year, Alisson Becker should undoubtedly remain the top choice in goal. The Georgian international will likely have to settle for a bench spot during his inaugural year at Anfield, with Alisson remaining the starting goalkeeper. However, the back four are in for a shake-up. Frimpong will vie with Conor Bradley for the right-back position, a competition that could benefit the Northern Ireland international as he works on his fitness. Jeremie Frimpong completed his transfer from Bayer Leverkusen on Friday -Credit:2025 Liverpool FC Kerkez is expected to step directly into the left-back role, replacing Andy Robertson. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate retain their central defense positions, leaving Slot with another midfield conundrum. Advertisement Wirtz seems destined for the No. 10 role, which Dominik Szoboszlai frequently filled this past season. The German is anticipated to be a regular starter, which might relegate Szoboszlai to a rotational role. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch certainly don't deserve to be sidelined. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo bring the firepower from both wings, leaving only the No. 9 position to be determined. Currently, Luis Diaz or Diogo Jota would be the likely choices, with Darwin Nunez expected to make a move this summer. However, if funds allow it, Liverpool should be in the market for a new striker. While a move for Alexander Isak will likely prove too pricey, given Newcastle is in the Champions League next season, a former Manchester City star would fit the bill. Julian Alvarez could be available. The Atletico Madrid forward, who scored 29 goals last season, seems like a more feasible option than Isak, particularly if a swap deal involving Nunez can be negotiated. Should Alvarez join the Reds, the potential line-up for next season will have fans on the edge of their seats. Liverpool's possible 2025/26 line-up could be: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Alvarez.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
How Florian Wirtz will bring a new dimension to Liverpool and why the German star could be a £109million bargain
LIVERPOOL are ready to spend a huge £109million on Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz. They moved quickly to try to acquire the services of the 22-year-old, who has snubbed German giants Bayern Munich to move to the Premier League champions. 8 8 It will be a statement signing by Arne Slot after winning the title in his first season in charge at Anfield. The Reds have already made their first move in the summer market, by recruiting Jeremie Frimpong. The moves come on the back of extra investment in the squad with the new deals completed for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. Wirtz is considered a generational talent in Germany. And he will bring a touch of the unpredictable to Liverpool's attack next season. Tactics expert Lee Scott believes the arrival of Wirtz will help prolong the career of one of their biggest stars. Goal threat Last season saw Wirtz contribute an impressive 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen. His ability to create space for himself and to be decisive in the final third really stood out as key for Leverkusen as they attempted to retain their Bundesliga title. He is dangerous in 1v1 situations when picking up possession wide or in the inside channel, or even centrally. And when he is moving at pace he is a threat with his shooting from distance with the ability to generate power and accuracy. Positionally when he is in the attacking third he does not really stick to one area and instead likes to drift to find himself pockets of space. Jamie Carragher reveals why PSG's Luis Enrique is refusing to speak to him and CBS Sports before Champions League final Looking at the current Liverpool squad it is likely that Slot will want to use him from the left of the three-man attack with Salah on the right. This will effectively give Liverpool true gamebreakers on either side of the attacking three. In the example below, Wirtz takes possession with the opposition, who are leading, in a deep defensive block. The thing that makes Wirtz different to most young attackers as this defensive block is not a barrier for him. He takes the ball and drives through the centre of the defensive block before scoring from the edge of the area. 8 Increasingly we have seen teams have to worry about the performances of Salah on the right-side for Liverpool. This means that teams tend to slide their defensive blocks slightly over to that side of the pitch. They want more protection against the Egyptian international and try to stop him going 1v1 against a single defender. Now, with Wirtz on the other side of the flank, opposition teams cannot overload their defence to either side. Next season Liverpool will have one of the most balanced and dangerous attacks in football. Wirtz is also very comfortable in the inside channels when receiving the ball. With rumours that Liverpool are also looking to add an attacking left back, they could be heavily reinforced on the left-side of the pitch to help to break down deep and stubborn defensive blocks. In this second example, Wirtz is holding the width and playing on the outside of the deepest opposition defender. As he receives the ball in these positions he generates real threat with his ability to drive inside and finish. 8 Adding a player of Wirtz's quality to their attacking options will increase the output from Liverpool in front of goal. But it will also make it far more difficult for opposition teams and coaches to figure out how to defend against them. Creativity in the final third As we have already mentioned above, Wirtz finished with an impressive 15 assists in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season. While his goal output will be important for Liverpool in terms of adding direct threat to their attack, his creativity in and around the final third will also bring value for Slot's team. Wirtz takes intelligent positions on the pitch to receive the ball and often finds himself in a pocket of space. The fact that he is then a threat to turn and drive at teams through the centre of the pitch makes defenders less likely to want to get tight to defend against him aggressively as they run the risk of being quickly outplayed. The fact that they will then tend to sit off against him though just gives him the time and space to find passes to outplay the defensive line. 8 Wirtz doesn't always play the obvious pass. Here, he goes out wide and gets his head up and instead of firing across goal as many other players would he identifies that the better ball is a deep cut back to the edge of the area to the incoming Aleix Garcia, who then scores. One of the things that makes Wirtz such a dangerous player around the final third of the pitch is that he seems to be able to slow the game down and find time to get his head up to identify the best option. He is rarely rushed, even when under pressure, and he has the technical ability to stay on the ball and then find the correct option at the correct time. Having a player who is a creative passer in their forward options will bring another dimension for Liverpool in their attack. While they have the likes of Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz as options for the left side of their attack, both are more direct players who lack the ability to slow the game down and play the killer pass. In the example below, Wirtz is in possession with a solid defensive block ahead of him. He sees the angle to bypass the entire opposition defence with a low driven through ball to release his striker in behind. 8 Liverpool are obviously looking for ways to make themselves less predictable in the attack. Signing a player who is as creative and dangerous as Wirtz will go a long way to making that happen for them. Intelligence in the opposition half We touched on the fact that Wirtz is the kind of attacking player who is able to slow the game down when under pressure and in tight spaces. This is a mark of his game intelligence and the fact that he has the technical level to be able to trust himself and his touch when under pressure. He has an innate ability to be able to take the ball and make positive decisions with the ability to hurt the opposition defence. He can get on the ball and either drive forward into the heart of the penalty area or he can play on the half-turn and combine quickly or play the final pass to break through the opposition defensive line. In the example below, he gets on the ball in the No10 position and immediately drives forward into the heart of the opposition defensive block. 8 While this may not always lead to a shooting opportunity for himself it will pull defenders towards him and create space for teammates. He scans and checks his shoulder often in the final third and this means that he will find himself in space with time to receive the ball whether that is wide or in more central areas of the pitch. This will allow Liverpool to quickly progress the ball forward and into more dangerous areas of the pitch. This time we see Wirtz occupying intelligent spaces in the final third and between the lines. As he receives the ball he has no defenders in a position to immediately get touch-tight to him and he can take the ball and turn towards goal 8 With Salah perhaps being best as a front facing threat who likes to get on the ball when facing the opposition goal, it is interesting that Liverpool are adding a player in Wirtz who is more creative with his positioning. Again, this signing will make planning for matches against Liverpool a very difficult experience for opposition coaches. Conclusion While the expected fee for Wirtz will be extremely high there is a sense that Liverpool will still be getting a bargain when they sign the 22-year-old German international. They will be signing a player who can extend the effective career of Salah straight away and when they do eventually move on from the Egyptian they will have their next attacking talisman in the building already.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Promise that Arne Slot made to Florian Wirtz that Bayern couldn't match was ‘decisive factor' in star picking Liverpool
FLORIAN WIRTZ reportedly chose Liverpool over Bayern Munich after being given an irresistible promise by Arne Slot. The highly-rated German star was courted by both clubs but in the end the guarantee of the No10 role tipped the scales in the Reds' favour. 4 4 4 According to Caughtoffside, Wirtz revealed that the decision was ultimately made after Slot assured him he would be THE playmaker in his Liverpool team. While Bayern offered him the prospect of competing in their world-class side, the path to regular first-team football was far from clear. Jamal Musiala's rapid rise at the Allianz Arena and the presence of more established players such as Joshua Kimmich meant that Wirtz would have had to fight for his place in the midfield. But at Liverpool, it is a different story - he would be the main man at Anfield. The creative hub of the team, controlling the game from midfield and leading Liverpool's attack. Slot promised Wirtz full control of the No10 role, a position that would be his alone. This clear-cut offer of a starring role was a far cry from the uncertainty Bayern offered. In the end Wirtz made his choice opting for the chance to be Liverpool's attacking leader. The fact that Liverpool have won the Premier League in Slot's first season is also contributing factor as it has highlighted the manager's ability to bring the best out of young players. The Dutch manager has been able to get the best out of both old and new faces with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk enjoying stellar campaign as well as Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo Thousands of people line streets for Liverpool's Premier League title parade as iconic DJ drafted in as special guest How close are Liverpool to a deal? The Premier League champions have submitted a second improved bid for the Germany midfielder. Liverpool's latest offer for the 22-year-old is about £109m, including add-ons. Wirtz is a key target for the Merseyside club and has made his wishes clear about wanting to join Liverpool before next season. 4
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Every word from Jeremie Frimpong on Salah, Slot phone call and playing against Liverpool
Jeremie Frimpong revealed that he had phone calls with Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk after learning of Liverpool's interest in signing him. Frimpong was confirmed as Liverpool's first summer signing on Friday, just hours after Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid was announced. Advertisement The 24-year-old made it apparent during the interview just how keen he was for the deal to happen, as he also said how excited he was to link up with Mohamed Salah. Read the full transcript of the interview below, courtesy of club media: How does it feel? "Thank you, it's a pleasure. I'm playing for Liverpool, what more can I say? My whole family is excited for me, and my girlfriend [is]. So, I'm happy, blessed. "I think it went quite easy. Liverpool came and said they had interest, and obviously for me it was a no-brainer. For me, it was like, 'Whatever you guys do, just get this done', [speaking to] my agents: 'Just get this done.' It went quite smoothly, there were no problems." Advertisement READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Huge second Wirtz bid submitted, Frimpong announced READ MORE: Jeremie Frimpong's first words as Liverpool player after Reds complete first summer signing Describe yourself as a player… "I would say I'm very fast, explosive, up and down on the wing. Energetic. Yeah, I think I can bring a lot of energy to the team." You wanted to join Liverpool when you were younger has that stuck in your mind? "Of course. You always want to play for the top teams as a footballer, as a kid. Of course when I was younger and Liverpool first came, that was a no-brainer as well, but due to transportation and all these sorts of things, I had to go a different way. And look at me now. So, it has worked really well." Have you learned anything from the Dutch players at Liverpool? "Yeah, of course. I have had a few conversations with them. Virgil has called me and told me a little bit more about Liverpool and the expectations, those types of things. And made me feel like the guys are going to welcome me well. That's what I expect from Virgil with how he is in the national team – he's a big character, captain. They have told me good things." Jeremie Frimpong has joined Liverpool -Credit:2025 Liverpool FC We saw you practising your Scouse a little bit a few months ago... "I didn't know it was going to go that viral! For me, it was literally just, obviously Ryan plays for Liverpool and obviously Liverpool is Scouse, so I just did that. I didn't think it was going to blow up like this. But yeah, it was funny, I appreciate the support." Did Anfield make an impression on you, the fans and atmosphere? "One hundred per cent. I think this is the best stadium I played in when I was with Leverkusen: the atmosphere, the fans, the team as well. The whole package is great." How did it feel to face Liverpool? "Ah, you know already, I don't need to say too much about the quality. They won the league. For me, playing against Liverpool when I was in Leverkusen, really difficult. Really, really difficult. How can I say it? Obviously Leverkusen were still good but you can see that Liverpool is next level." You know the language and the culture? "Yeah, exactly. Of course. I was born in Amsterdam but I was raised in England so of course I know the culture. I think I'm going to settle in well." How have you changed over the last few years now you've won league titles in two countries? "One hundred per cent. I was immature back then, I was still a kid (at Celtic). I was just thinking about leaving my friends. That was more important to me at that point because obviously I grew up with them, went to school with them. So for me it was like, 'Ah, I'm not going to see them now.' All my brother gave me was a wake-up call. It was needed, 100 per cent, because I really did want to turn [back] that day. But then my brother was like, 'OK, listen, it's your chance now. You have to show them.' And now I'm here. Of course that mindset has changed, 100 per cent." Is your expectation that this winning can continue and you can add to that with Liverpool? For me, everywhere I've been I've always won things. It's always been the league, cups and the league, so I've always won trebles. So yes, I want to win trebles, I want to win trophies – I play football to win trophies. I want to win as many trophies as possible. Frimpong helped Leverkusen win the Bundesliga in the 2023/24 season -Credit:2025 Liverpool FC Have you had a chance to see any of the scenes over the last few weeks at Liverpool? "Of course I saw that. When that was happening I was on holiday, so obviously I saw it on social media. Amazing! I want to be part of that, 100 per cent." Is it inspiring when you see things like that? "Of course. This is winners, this is why we play football – to make the fans happy. When you win, you celebrate with them. This is what the sport is about. I live for these moments. It's the best feeling ever as a football player." Have you had a chance to speak to Arne yet? "I spoke to the manager a few times. He sounds very positive. He says I can bring a lot of energy and my qualities, my speed. Especially when a manager is talking positively about you, it gives you very good confidence that he believes in you. I've had good conversations with him." How much are you looking forward to working with him? "Yeah, 100 percent. I'm really excited. Even when I was at [the] national team, some of the Feyenoord boys would tell me about him and be like, 'He's the best coach I've ever had.' Things like this. So, I've always heard good things about the coach. Now he's going to be my coach, so I'm excited for that." And Mo Salah is going to be one of your teammates… "Playing with world-class players as a footballer is a great feeling, it's a privilege, like, 'I'm going to be next to Mo Salah.' Not just him, the whole Liverpool squad. Just Liverpool in general, this is a privilege, a blessing that I can be part of it. But I can't wait to link up with him – hopefully we link up well. I'm excited for these things, 100 percent." Jeremie Frimpong has joined Liverpool -Credit:2025 Liverpool FC You're still only 24 but do you think there's room for improvement? "Always. There's never a day [that] goes past where I don't think I can improve. I feel like improving is part of football. Never stay comfortable, never stay complacent. There's always room to improve and to do more as well." What would you like to achieve here? "Look at my tablet and be like, 'Yeah, I've won this trophy, this trophy, this trophy, this trophy.' And then speak to my family and my friends and my teammates about it, 'We've had a good five years.' Yeah, things like that." What's your message to the fans? "Liverpool fans, I'm going to give my all, my energy, my work-rate and hopefully we can win together, we celebrate together, get everything together. I'm just excited to be here. Thank you guys for accepting me and I won't let you guys down and I'll give you the energy that you guys want."
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Frimpong joins Liverpool in €35m deal as Alexander-Arnold departs for Real Madrid
LONDON, May 31 — Liverpool have signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, the English Premier League champions announced yesterday. No fee or length of contract was disclosed but British media reports said Frimpong had arrived at Anfield on a five-year deal worth €35 million (RM169 million). News of Frimpong's signing came just hours after Liverpool confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold would be joining Real Madrid in time to play in the Club World Cup, Frimpong appears to be a ready-made replacement for England full-back Alexander-Arnold, with Liverpool activating the 24-year-old Dutch international's release cause. He was a key figure as Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title in 2023/24 and made 53 appearances in all competitions as they finished second this season. Frimpong, however, will have competition at right-back from Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley, who recently signed a new four-year contract with Liverpool. Frimpong rose through the youth ranks at Manchester City and went on to join Celtic in September 2019 before a move to Leverkusen in January 2021. He is now set to join a Netherlands contingent at Liverpool that includes manager Arne Slot as well as club captain Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool are also in talks with Leverkusen over signing Frimpong's former team-mate Florian Wirtz. Reports earlier yesterday said Liverpool had made an improved £109 million (RM705 million) bid to sign the Germany midfielder. Liverpool's second offer for Wirtz includes add-on clauses that would make him the most expensive signing in the club's history. Wirtz has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but it is believed he made it clear to Leverkusen that he wants to join Liverpool before next season. The 22-year-old emerged as one of the most highly-rated young playmakers in Europe after helping Leverkusen win thee Bundesliga. Wirtz was named Bundesliga player of the season for his role in that 2023/24 triumph. He featured in 31 Bundesliga matches this season, scoring 10 goals as Leverkusen finished second behind Bayern in the title race. Wirtz has scored 57 goals in 197 games since making his Leverkusen debut aged just 17 after signing from Cologne in 2020. — AFP
