Liverpool’s summer transfer plans have hit a snag as their pursuit of two marquee targets has been thwarted. Reports linking them to Florian Wirtz have been dismissed, while Real Madrid have once again outmaneuvered the Reds in the transfer market.
Sporting director Richard Hughes is working tirelessly to strengthen Arne Slot’s squad after the Dutchman clinched the Premier League title in his debut season. However, Slot’s triumph came with a thin roster, having only added Federico Chiesa this season, who has seen a mere 41 minutes of action in the league.
While the contract extensions of Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have provided a boost, the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid has left a gaping hole at right-back, making it a top priority for Liverpool.
The Reds are reportedly in advanced talks to secure Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, with another of Slot’s former Feyenoord favorites also in the mix as a potential alternative.
Adding to their concerns, Liverpool’s search for a new centre-back has hit a roadblock. With doubts surrounding the futures of Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate, the club had set their sights on Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen. However, Real Madrid have swooped in to deliver a decisive blow.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed on X: “Bournemouth have approved Real Madrid’s conditions for the Dean Huijsen deal, with a £50m release clause to be paid by the end of 2026. The deal is done between the clubs. The final green light is needed from the player’s camp, as Huijsen has always prioritized Madrid.”
Romano later confirmed that new Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso played a pivotal role in accelerating the transfer. “Xabi Alonso urged Real Madrid to fast-track the Dean Huijsen deal as an ideal solution for a top talent. Premier League clubs were eager to finalize the deal last week, but Huijsen chose to wait and prioritize Real Madrid. A key meeting took place on Monday,” he added.
Meanwhile, Liverpool fans were briefly uplifted by rumors of a potential hijack of Manchester City’s pursuit of Florian Wirtz. Bild reporter Christian Falk stated, “There was also a meeting with FC Liverpool and Florian Wirtz (22) on Tuesday in England. Manchester City are also negotiating with Wirtz’s family. However, Bayern Munich’s bosses are confident the player will honor his promise to move to Munich.”
However, Liverpool.com has since debunked these claims, stating that while Slot and his team are “interested in Wirtz,” no meeting took place with either Liverpool or Manchester City this week. The report suggests that Wirtz is most likely to either join Bayern Munich or remain at Leverkusen.
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