23 May 2025 14:18:00
From a trusted source within the cub:
Recent meeting between Michael Edwards and John W. Henry was not simply to sign off on a bid for Wirtz as reported, but was to sign off on the investment in Wirtz IN ADDITION to the rest of the planned transfer activity this summer.
Liverpool expect to raise in excess of £200mil in player sales this summer, with the likes of Nunez, Elliot, Doak, Kelleher, Tsimikas, Morton, and Chiesa expected to depart the club.
Several other players including Diaz, Jota, Quansah, Bacjetic, Gomez, and Konate could also leave depending on individual situations, but the club would be happy to keep all of them for next season.
This resultant £200mil in player sales had been initially planned to be spent on Frimpong, Kerkez, Julian Alvarez, and Huijsen, with a minimal net spend expected in terms of additional investment.
However, the unexpected developments in the Florian Wirtz situation have opened the possibility of investing an additional sum (in the region of £100mil) to secure a player that is expected to be one of the superstars of the next decade. The deal, despite the massive cost involved, is perceived as being "opportunistic" by the club's management, and the recent meeting with FSG was to present this idea to him with a view to completing the Wirtz transfer IN ADDITION to the rest of the club's planned transfer business. i. e. the fee for Wirtz will be Liverpool's net spend this summer. This plan has received a green light from FSG, which is why the club will still be meeting with Julian Alvarez' reps next week, with a view to securing his services alongside Wirtz.
The Frimpong deal is done, and the Kerkez deal will get done, but negotiations have slowed in recent days. This is partly due to the distraction of the Wirtz deal (which is expected to be finalised next week after the player has announced his decision to join Liverpool) and partly as a negotiation tactic with Bournemouth. Bournemouth briefed the media on interest in Kerkez from Man City and Real Madrid to try and push Liverpool to meet their valuation, and Liverpool have responded by easing back for a few days and allowing links to players like Hincapie to materialise. But Kerkez wants Liverpool, and the club want him, so that deal will still get done, it is just a matter of time, and the clubs are expect to reach an agreement of a fee around £42mil.
I fully expect Wirtz, Frimpong, Kerkez, and Julian Alvarez to be Liverpool players by the start of pre-season. It is also likely that Liverpool will sign a back-up centre back, but this has been delayed by Madrid's move for Huijsen, who was the top target. Liverpool have several options in mind, but are waiting to receive confirmation on the Konate situation before making a decision on the calibre of player to bring in.
A defensive midfielder with passing range to rotate with Gravenberch is also on the club's radar - with interest in players like Wharton and Stiller as reported, but this is not a priority as of right now, and any potential moves in this department would be of the "opportunistic" nature.
23 May 2025 14:34:52
Nice one!
23 May 2025 14:37:58
Sounds like football manager. But I hope you are right, would be 100/10 if this happens.
23 May 2025 14:49:35
I agree with most of what you have posted,
tho I am not convinced that Edwards or any Liverpool staff went to Boston to meet with John Henry,
or that Alvarez will be able to sign for us .
Red notice, you did mention that we need someone to rotate with Grav, def needed as Grav was wrecked the past few weeks, a Striker is really needed, maybe Pedro from Brighton, yes he has a couple of rough edges but Slot would make him shine .
23 May 2025 14:50:44
I like your version better than the previous post so I choose to believe this one.
23 May 2025 14:52:32
Interesting stuff mate! Nice one.
23 May 2025 14:54:46
So the club would sign two forwards in Wirtz and Julian Alvarez who is not for sale by Atletico (They signed him for circa 100 mill Euros) .
Nice write-up btw.
23 May 2025 15:01:35
If that happens, this would be and all time window and one of the truly elite ones with the players signed. Although CB and CDM are definitely needed for rotation.
23 May 2025 15:03:06
We are not getting in excess of 200m for those players. We are also not spending 300m in one window or getting Alvarez and Heijson. Lay off the drugs mate.
23 May 2025 15:11:17
This is exciting stuff if true, what a window that would be!
And just to address House of Cards' comment above, Wirtz is not a forward in the way that Alvarez is? Wirtz is a 10, who could play Dom's attacking midfield role (with more creative freedom), can play off the left in the Gakpo/ Diaz role, or yes, could play as a false nine. Where as Alvarez is more naturally the 9. So I definitely think they could play together - and would even work really well in the system Slot has used a few times this season with the sort of two false 9's / dual 10's with Diaz and Szoboszlai.
As for Alvarez not being for sale, yes the president spoke out this week, but there have also been lots of rumours since that they would sell him if they receive a fee of more than they paid, and we know the player likes Liverpool, so I definitely wouldn't write it off completely, even if it does seem unlikely.
If anyone can, it's Edwards!
23 May 2025 15:11:36
Great rumour that but you’ll get the usual super fans crying saying owners don’t get involved in transfers whilst also crying about City, Utds and Chelseas owners over spending on transfers.
23 May 2025 15:18:40
I like the post, not sure I see us going for both Wirtz and Alvarez but I think those signings would secure us winning leagues and other trophies for the next few years at least.
We are long over due a transfer window to set our intent to the rest of Europe!
23 May 2025 15:22:40
If we sign Wirtz and Alvarez, I'll change my username to Richard Hughes is a Legend.
I criticized him early doors but if he pulls both of those off I'll be absolutely shocked.
I'd be ecstatic if we could even get one of them over the line. Both would be something else all together.
23 May 2025 15:33:23
Alvarez left the UK because his wife couldn't stand it. He won't be coming back!
23 May 2025 15:38:32
I'd be very excited for Wirtz. I think he would be an amazing pickup.
I'm fairly indifferent about Alvarez simply because I haven't seen him play in Spain. I do believe he was underutilized in his previous stint in the PL, but not sure what he would bring. If it happens, I hope he brings a lot.
I think what would make Alvarez more exciting for me is that Wirtz would come also. Some combination of Salah/ Gakpo/ Alvarez playing with Wirtz as a false 9 would be very fun to watch. I've not been a big fan of Diaz, but his inclusion there would also be pretty fun if he stays.
It could be a very big change in the attack. I almost expect that if Liverpool were to get Wirtz and Alvarez, it would be with Nunez, Jota, and Diaz all exiting. That's a net positive for me based on how Wirtz would work with Salah/ Gakpo/ Alvarez.
23 May 2025 15:39:43
I was convinced until you said Alvarez, he is unlikely to be coming given he hates the UK weather!
he is very much thinking of 2nd season with Atletico, unless they force him out which is also unlikely.
23 May 2025 15:57:33
Alvarez can't stand living in the North of England, as is well documented.
23 May 2025 16:21:57
He'd be on enough money to buy a helicopter - maybe the Babelcopter when not in use during the season - to live in Surrey and commute.
23 May 2025 16:30:00
If we sign one attacking player of the calibre of Alvarez or Wirtz I will be delighted but very surprised.
23 May 2025 16:51:12
Ornstein pretty much confirmed that if he leaves Bayer this year it would be for Liverpool.
24 May 2025 03:18:51
Now Huijsen is off the table, do we have any idea on a name for an alternative CB?
{Ed025's Note - Hato?..