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The Sun
33 minutes ago
- Business
- The Sun
How record Florian Wirtz transfer could spark £400m Liverpool overhaul as Arne Slot plots Feyenoord-style transformation
ARNE SLOT spent just £10million last summer on Juventus playmaker Federico Chiesa. But the Liverpool boss — fresh from winning the Premier League title in his debut season — is on a £200m-plus transfer blitz to make sure the Reds blast out of the blocks from day one of pre-season. 6 6 German sensation Florian Wirtz, 22, is the marquee signing for a British-record £116.5m and joins his old Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong — who cost £29.5m — at Anfield. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is next to make the move to Merseyside after a £40m deal was agreed yesterday, while Valencia's £30m keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili joins on July 1. Slot is also keen on Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, while Newcastle pair Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon remain targets in a flurry of summer transfer activity that could see the Kop boss spend another £200m. While rivals Manchester City and Chelsea exert themselves in the sweltering heat of the Club World Cup — which runs until July 13 in the USA — Liverpool are primed to turn up the pressure in the title race when they kick-off the season against Bournemouth on August 15. Playmaker Wirtz is the headline act in Slot's revolution — one the Dutchman has been plotting over the last 12 months. Slot, 46, paid tribute to predecessor Jurgen Klopp when he lifted a record-equalling 20th league title in front of an adoring Kop back in May. But the former Feyenoord boss clearly felt he inherited a squad that needed a complete makeover in tactics and personnel. 6 Slot saved his money and waited while winning the hearts and minds of a doubting red half of Merseyside — as well as players, who were unsure of what would come next. At the same time he was identifying who he wanted — and who he didn't. Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Jarrel Quansah — almost certain to leave for Leverkusen — Joe Gomez, Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez could all be out this summer. Of course, Slot had been here before. After his first season in charge of Feyenoord, in 2021-22, he instigated massive changes. He moved on 16 players, including £12.9m Tyrell Malacia to Manchester United and Luis Sinisterra, who was sold to Leeds for £25m, while 11 were either let go or sent out on loan. Meanwhile, for around £35m — far less than the mammoth budget he is now armed with — 15 were brought in. Slot lifted the Eredivisie title in 2023 and the Dutch Cup last year before making his way to Anfield. And changes were made as he got his feet under the table, although none of them suggested how seismic they would become. Klopp's 'heavy metal football' morphed into far more controlled and muted melodies, the beat about possession, not frantic assault. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister went to double-bass, the pair redeployed from attacking roles to holding midfielders. Trent Alexander-Arnold no longer busked away from his right-back spot so often, Nunez was made a third string, Dominik Szoboszlai moved into a more free–flowing, attacking role, much of it to enable Mo Salah to play all that jazz and become the Football Writers' Association and Prem Player of the Year. 6 6 Slot got the band playing to a more sophisticated rhythm and turned them into a No 1 hit. The campaign morphed into what seemed a perfect symphony but as Liverpool's summer splurge shows, with Wirtz coming in as the conductor of a new orchestra, it was really only the opening overture. Now comes what Slot will hope will be the creation of his very own work of art, led by 5ft 10in Wirtz, who many believe is becoming one of the great maestros of the game. He arrives as a generational talent who not only creates but scores — 44 goal contributions across the last two Bundesliga campaigns, including 21 goals and a league-high of 23 assists. Wirtz's figures are the second most of any player aged under 23 in Europe's top-five leagues, just behind Chelsea's Cole Palmer. Last season, for the second in a row, he was one of just six players to reach double figures for goals and assists in Europe's big-five leagues. Wirtz is his own one–man band. He is almost faultless with both feet and waltzes past defenders because he is so difficult to predict. Over the last two years he attempted a Bundesliga-high of 313 take-ons. And just Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (231), West Ham's Mohammed Kudus (216) and Manchester City's Jeremy Doku (203) completed more than his 161 dribbles in that same time frame in Europe's top five leagues. Wirtz created 124 chances from open play in that period, a figure bettered only by Salah (150), Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard (139), Manchester United's captain Bruno Fernandes (137) and Chelsea's Palmer (134).
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Journalist Confirms Liverpool's Interest in Signing £40m Star
Liverpool Eyeing Guehi as Next Defensive Anchor Amid Quansah Exit Liverpool are continuing their methodical rebuild under Arne Slot by exploring the market for a new central defender, with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi emerging as a serious candidate. As reported by Lewis Steele, speaking on Anfield Index with Dave Davis, the 24-year-old centre-back is firmly on the Reds' radar, but a move is far from imminent, at least for now. Guehi a Leading Option but Not the Only One Guehi's name is not new to Liverpool's recruitment team. 'Liverpool aren't completely all-in on him at this stage but that could change very quickly,' said Steele. That subtle caveat speaks volumes about the club's evolving transfer strategy. Under Slot, Liverpool have shown a willingness to act decisively when the conditions align, and Guehi's contract situation, he has just one year remaining and could be available for around £40m, is starting to draw attention at Kirkby. Advertisement 'They were interested in him last summer but maybe they noticed his contract situation,' Steele added, suggesting the opportunity is now more economically appealing. Guehi would not arrive as a panic buy or a developmental project. Instead, he would be viewed as a ready-made option, capable of playing immediately and contributing to a title-defending campaign. 'He's a very good player. Palace fans absolutely adore him. He's their leader, their captain and he won them the FA Cup,' said Steele. His character and leadership are precisely the type of traits that Liverpool's dressing room crave. Defensive Overhaul Signals Strategic Planning Slot's first summer window is already showing aggressive movement. Jeremie Frimpong has joined from Bayer Leverkusen to succeed Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Milos Kerkez is poised to arrive at left-back. In midfield, Liverpool shattered their transfer record to secure Florian Wirtz for £113 million. Advertisement The Guehi links, however, mark a potentially critical next step in the spine of Slot's Liverpool 2.0. With Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konaté both facing uncertain long-term futures, though neither is expected to leave this summer, bringing in another versatile and composed centre-back fits the puzzle. 'I don't think that Guehi is the only centre-back they are looking at. I just think that he is one of the options,' Steele clarified. Photo: IMAGO That careful wording reinforces the reality of modern recruitment. Liverpool are not desperate, but rather deliberate. They recognise value, timing and character, and Guehi ticks all three boxes. England Role Increases Guehi's Appeal There's another reason Liverpool's interest may accelerate. Guehi is expected to start for England at the World Cup next summer, which could exponentially raise his profile and price. 'He has all of the modern centre-back traits that you would want and he is set to start for England in the World Cup next summer,' said Steele. Advertisement That looming tournament could turn a £30 million opportunity into a £60 million battle. Timing, as ever, will be everything. 'If he is available at that cut-price deal with him only having one year left on his deal, then Liverpool would step it up,' Steele emphasised. In short, it may be now or never. Slot's Summer Vision Taking Shape There's a clear sense that Liverpool's business is calculated and holistic. They have not only replaced key full-backs but are also layering depth and leadership across all lines. With Guehi, they would be acquiring a Premier League-proven defender, a national team starter and a dressing room leader — all before his prime years. 'It would make sense if they signed him, but he isn't the only option,' Steele concluded, offering a fitting summary of the current stance. Liverpool might not yet be all-in on Guehi, but they are standing close to the table, chips in hand, waiting for the right moment to play.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Florian Wirtz's first words to Liverpool fans - as £116m record signing declares bold ambitions and reveals why the Reds were the club for him
Liverpool 's new superstar Florian Wirtz has declared his ambition to 'win everything, every year' after making his blockbuster switch from Bayer Leverkusen. The German golden boy says he is already feeling the love from Reds fans following his £100million move - which could rise to a British transfer record of £116m. Wirtz has penned a five-year deal at Anfield after a month-long soap opera which saw him reject the esteemed company of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid. He will be expected to hit the ground running after Liverpool shelled out a club-record fee to sign him. Wirtz said: 'I would like to win everything, every year! First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work. 'In the end, we want to be successful. Last season, Liverpool won the Premier League, so my goal is to win it again and also go further in the Champions League. I'm really ambitious. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liverpool Football Club (@liverpoolfc) Liverpool's new superstar Florian Wirtz says he aims to 'win everything, every year' 'I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and join the Premier League.' In a video on Instagram, the 22-year-old added: 'What would I say? I would say, thank you for the support, of course, I also saw it on Instagram or everywhere else that they are wanting me to come. 'I would say thank you for the support and I'm really looking forward to playing in front of them and achieving big things together. 'So yeah, I'm really happy to come and sorry for the long wait.' After a relatively reserved few transfer windows, Liverpool fans have been left slack-jawed by what looks to be an almost perfect transfer window so far. Arne Slot had already signed Wirtz's former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m. Witrtz and Frimpong were crucial to Leverkusen's invincible domestic double in 2023-24 under Xabi Alonso and were recently on holiday together. Frimpong arrives as an attack-mided replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who Liverpool got £10m for from Real Madrid just a month before his contract ended. The Reds are also set to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for £40m. Meanwhile, Giorgi Mamardashvili will take his place as Alisson's sidekick after leaving Valencia for £29m - as arranged last summer - while Caiomhin Kelleher has been shipped to Brentford for a healthy £18m. Slot's vision appealed to Wirtz and the Dutchman plans to deploy him as an attacking midfielder. It is believed that in games when Liverpool are dominating, they foresee Wirtz floating all over the attack. They will have to balance the books with sales but their summer business may continue after with them still having designs on a No 9 and defender.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Football: Liverpool shatter club transfer record to sign Germany's Wirtz
Florian Wirtz Photo: AFP Liverpool have smashed their club transfer record to sign Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen will receive a guaranteed amount of £100 million (NZ$225 million) and a further maximum of 16 million pounds in potential bonuses. That makes the 22-year-old Liverpool's most-expensive signing ever, ahead of Netherlands centre back and captain Virgil van Dijk who joined for £75m in 2017. Wirtz, who signed a five-year contract, also becomes the fifth £100m-plus signing in Premier League history, joining Chelsea midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Arsenal's Declan Rice and Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. "I feel very happy and very proud. Finally it's done and I was waiting for a long time ' finally it's done and I am really happy," Wirtz said in a statement. "I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League." With two years left on his Leverkusen contract, Wirtz was also heavily linked with a move to German champions Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola's City, who were looking to replace Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian playmaker's exit. Wirtz was instrumental at Leverkusen, leading them to an undefeated domestic league and Cup double in the 2023-24 season while they went two league seasons without an away defeat. The German bagged 57 goals and provided 65 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen, having joined the club from Cologne in 2020. He scored 16 goals, with 15 assists, in 45 matches last season as Leverkusen finished second to Bayern. Capped 31 times by his country since his debut in 2021, Wirtz is the only player to register 10 or more goals and assists in the last two Bundesliga seasons. While his arrival will add to Liverpool manager Arne Slot's midfield options, alongside Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, Wirtz's versatility means he can also play on the left wing or as a false nine. His signing is a statement of intent from Liverpool as they look to build on their success under Slot, the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League and the sixth coach to win the title in their first season. "I would like to win everything every year! First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work," Wirtz added. "In the end, we want to be successful. Last season they won the Premier League so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League. I'm really ambitious." He becomes Liverpool's second addition of the transfer window after they signed Dutch right back Jeremie Frimpong, also from Leverkusen. Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez, 21, has also been linked with the Merseyside club. - Reuters
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Liverpool complete £100m club-record signing of Florian Wirtz
The deal for the 22-year-old Germany international could potentially become a British record as there are £16m of add-ons included, which would surpass the existing mark of £115m which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023. It is understood Liverpool will be happy to pay these 'aspirational bonuses' as it will mean they have enjoyed considerable success at elite level. Florian Wirtz is a Red. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 20, 2025 Wirtz has signed a five-year contract and the capture of one of Europe's most highly-rated talents is seen as a significant coup for the club having initially faced competition from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Leverkusen had valued Wirtz at £126m but a compromise was reached last week, although the up-front fee easily outstrips the £85m deal Liverpool agreed with Benfica in 2022 for Darwin Nunez, who is expected to leave this summer. Wirtz is Liverpool's second signing of the summer, following close friend and Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, and with the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Marmadashvilli joining next month after a deal was agreed a year ago spending has already reached £175m. Jeremie Frimpong has also made the move from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield (Peter Byrne/PA) That is set to be pushed beyond the £200m mark with a £40m fee agreed for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. It is their biggest summer window since 2018 when Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alisson Becker were recruited for around £170m, with Virgil van Dijk having signed for £75m the previous January. Owners Fenway Sports Group have, despite their 'Moneyball' reputation, not been afraid to splash out big fees for transformative players like Van Dijk and Alisson – and Wirtz falls into that category. The club have already recouped around £26m with the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher with further funds expected to be generated from the likes of Nunez, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and potentially Andy Robertson, who is a target for Atletico Madrid. 'I feel very happy and very proud. I was waiting for a long time – finally it's done and I am really happy,' Wirtz told the club's website. From Leverkusen to Liverpool 🌍 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 20, 2025 'I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League. 'I will see how I can perform there. I hope I can do my best. I spoke also with some players who played there and they told me that it's perfect for me and every pitch is perfect, you can enjoy every game. I'm really looking forward to playing my first game. 'I would like to win everything every year! First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work. 'In the end, we want to be successful. Last season they won the Premier League so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League. I'm really ambitious.'
