Liverpool hold talks for “special” £84m star

Liverpool’s summer season switch window is starting to kind a coherent image, with FSG appearing rapidly to tidy up the defensive flanks and get the mammoth deal for Florian Wirtz over the road.

The Bayer Leverkusen famous person gave curious Liverpool supporters a style of his high quality throughout Germany’s Nations League semi-final tie towards Portugal this week, scoring throughout the 2-1 loss.

His intelligence, tenacity and motion underscored the playmaker’s capacity, having been totally unbelievable throughout his time in Leverkusen’s squad, successful the 2023/24 Bundesliga Participant of the Yr after triumphing as an invincible earlier than claiming extra Man of the Match awards than some other participant throughout this time period’s Champions League marketing campaign.

We’re a whisker away from a constructive growth in Liverpool’s bid to safe a marquee deal, nevertheless it could be a case of 1 out, one in.

Whereas the Wirtz deal will not have any bearing on the potential sale of Luis Diaz, the Colombian’s departure is one thing to think about.

The newest on Luis Diaz’s future

On Thursday, Liverpool rejected an method from Barcelona for ahead Diaz, who scored 17 objectives and laid on eight assists for Slot’s facet this yr.

The 28-year-old, who’s getting into the penultimate yr of his contract, will solely be allowed to go away if Liverpool are provided a big sum; the Saudi Professional League have identified admirers of the South American expertise.

Although the considered Diaz and Wirtz combining in a new-look Liverpool frontline is thrilling, there might be a possibility to safe a brand new, youthful signature.

FSG’s no-sell stance is laced with the undertow of an openness, ought to the best provide be tabled.

Particularly when talks have been held for an almighty alternative on the left flank.

Liverpool maintain talks for marquee signing

In keeping with switch insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool held discussions regarding Actual Madrid’s Rodrygo final month, their intrigue persisting after initially drawing him up as a Mohamed Salah successor, ought to the Egyptian have left this summer season.

Arsenal could be Anfield’s most notable rival within the race, and although the Gunners have a vested curiosity, they haven’t but launched an official bid for the Brazil ahead.

Rodrygo, 24, has develop into disillusioned with life at Santiago Bernabeu, pissed off to be perceived to be within the shadow of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

For his or her half, Actual now not take into account Rodrygo untouchable, however would solely money in if their €100m (about £84m) valuation was met.

What Rodrygo would convey to Liverpool

Whereas the jury will stay out for a short time as Xabi Alonso’s plans at Actual Madrid start to form up, it is tough to think about the Spanish tactician will take away Vini Jr. from his left-sided berth.

This might lead Rodrygo to make the eventual choice to go away Los Blancos, having featured 267 occasions, posting 118 objective contributions, for the membership since signing from Santos for a £39.5m payment when he was simply 18.

Nonetheless, most of these outings have come off the best wing, whereas the right-footed ahead prefers the alternate facet as he feels it’s right here he reaches his zenith.

If the 2024/25 marketing campaign has any say on the matter, it definitely seems like that is the case, which is why Liverpool might hit the jackpot in bringing Rodrygo over as Diaz’s inheritor.

Particularly when contemplating the partnership that may very well be solid with Wirtz, the 2 starring within the Champions League and driving Anfield by the home marketing campaign.

Wirtz brings a lot to the sport, astounding in his artistic output and certainly willingness to tackle his man and drive the ball into the hazard space himself.

The German worldwide ranked among the many high 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the Bundesliga this season for assists, the highest 6% for shot-creating actions, the highest 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, and the highest 3% for profitable take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

For a gifted and technically crisp winger in Rodrygo, this may very well be a superb approach so as to add depth and fluency to an already thriving Liverpool frontline. Rodrygo, certainly, is a natural-born goalscorer, along with his ending as soon as described as being “terrifyingly good” by journalist Sam Tighe.

Although he solely managed to attain six objectives in La Liga this season, the “particular” Rodrygo, as he has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti, solely missed one massive likelihood, as per Sofascore, highlighting the underlying knowledge that Wirtz’s prowess would solely improve at Liverpool. Wirtz, actually, created 17 massive possibilities and equipped 12 assists within the Bundesliga this time period regardless of solely beginning 25 matches.

Whether or not Liverpool act on their curiosity and launch a big-money bid for the star stays to be seen, however there is no query he could be an unimaginable addition to among the finest groups on this planet.

For now, we should wait and see whether or not FSG speed up their intrigue within the famous person, however with Arsenal eager and but to indicate their hand within the switch market, it will definitely assist if sporting director Richard Hughes might draw rumours over Diaz’s future to a detailed.

If an appropriate provide does arrive, Rodrygo would possibly simply comply with Wirtz by the Anfield gates, consolidating Slot’s staff as a goliath of the trendy European recreation – right here to remain.