Florian Wirtz is reported to prefer a move to Liverpool over Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, with the Reds keen to strengthen their forward line.
The Merseysiders will lift the Premier League trophy in front of a packed Anfield crowd on Sunday when they welcome Crystal Palace to the stadium, bringing an end to their successful 2024-25 campaign.
However, with the summer window fast approaching, attention has turned to whom the club could bring in to bolster their squad ahead of their title defence in 2025-26.
Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong looks certain to be the team's first addition, and his arrival would be a welcome boost given Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced his intention to leave upon the expiry of his contract.
Frimpong may be reunited with Leverkusen teammate Wirtz at Anfield considering transfer expert David Ornstein has claimed in The Athletic that the attacker prefers a move to Liverpool over Bayern Munich, and has even said that the German has been looking for houses to live in.
© Imago
Where would Wirtz play?
Wirtz has primarily played in one of two attacking midfield roles behind a central striker under Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, with the 22-year-old preferring to operate on the left side of the pitch.
Given he is comfortable playing between opposition lines, there is no doubt that he would excel as Liverpool's number 10, coming into the team in place of Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, removing Szoboszlai from the XI could be detrimental to talisman Mohamed Salah, who has been provided with extra freedom from defensive duties.
The Egyptian's tendencies to stay forward could have proven more costly had he not been covered by Szoboszlai, who has used his immense athleticism to track back and defend.
Perhaps Wirtz is being targeted by boss Arne Slot as a successor to left-winger Luis Diaz, who is a reported target of Barcelona this summer.
While asking the German to stay wide would arguably be a waste of his creative talents, he could be given freedom to move inside into central zones, especially if the Reds look to sign a left-back in the mould of Milos Kerkez.
Kerkez is at his best when he is able to charge up and down the left side of the pitch, and he could feasibly provide width while Wirtz joins Szoboszlai behind the team's number nine.
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Lewis Nolan
