Wirtz and Kerkez next? Why Liverpool are spending big

It was an highly quiet transportation model for Liverpool past summer, pinch Federico Chiesa nan only contiguous signing that was made.

But contempt nan deficiency of additions, nan Reds cruised to nan Premier League title successful Arne Slot's first play successful charge.

This time, however, they are doing things differently.

Liverpool person already brought successful Netherlands world Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m, are closing successful connected his Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz for a interest successful nan region of a nine grounds £109m and are successful talks to motion Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for betwixt £45m and £50m.

There's besides apt to beryllium further incomings and outgoings to come.

After seeing his broadside adjacent retired their title-winning run pinch a 1-1 tie against Crystal Palace astatine Anfield, Slot reflected connected nan club's deficiency of transportation business past summer.

Chiesa arrived precocious successful nan model and while nan Reds did besides work together a woody to motion Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, he stayed pinch nan Spanish broadside until this summer.

"We did things differently," he said. "Apart from signing Federico Chiesa we didn't do a batch truthful that makes it possibly moreover much special."

If nan deficiency of transportation activity made for a "special" title win, why nan alteration of tack?

"It will beryllium conscionable arsenic reliable aliases moreover tougher adjacent play because nan clubs we've competed pinch this play person ever successful each model invested a batch of money and they will astir apt do truthful this summertime arsenic well," Slot added.

"We conscionable want bully players. Ideally you motion them arsenic soon arsenic you tin but it is not ever easy."

The presence of Wirtz and Kerkez would return Liverpool's spending to astir £180m already, pinch a mini-transfer model having opened earlier than accustomed because of nan Club World Cup.

But, while immoderate clubs are taking advantage of nan early model owed to playing successful nan tourney aliases to meet Profit and Sustainability requirements, nan Reds are simply attempting to do their business quickly arsenic nan champion mentation for nan caller season.

"Liverpool person been extracurricular of nan apical 10 spenders connected subordinate signings since 2019, but their exemplary is simply a classical lawsuit of being smarter alternatively than bigger," says shot finance master Kieran Maguire.

"They surely person nan capacity to walk £200m but whether that fits pinch their exemplary is different matter."

This is besides a first due summertime transportation model for sporting head Richard Hughes, who joined nan Reds successful March past year.

At that clip his contiguous task was identifying and appointing Jurgen Klopp's successor but his afloat attraction now, pinch much than a twelvemonth to prepare, has been connected subordinate recruitment.

Given really overmuch nan Reds person spent already, location is each chance they will walk nan £200m Maguire mentions, pinch respective positions still being targeted arsenic areas to strengthen.

Liverpool moved quickly to reside nan departure of full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold pinch nan signing of Frimpong, who tin play anyplace down nan right-hand side.

Wirtz, meanwhile, is seen arsenic a cardinal acquisition for Slot, which is why Liverpool are prepared to salary a club-record transportation interest for him.

Manchester City - Liverpool's apt main challengers for nan title adjacent play - had besides been willing successful nan Germany international, having viewed him arsenic a successor to Kevin de Bruyne.

But Pep Guardiola's broadside were ultimately put disconnected by nan imaginable costs of nan deal, leaving Liverpool to property on.

Left-back is besides an area Slot wants to fortify pinch Milos Kerkez - who plays for Hughes' erstwhile nine Bournemouth - a cardinal target.

No statement has yet been reached betwixt Liverpool and Bournemouth, but nan Reds person stepped up their efforts to motion him complete nan past mates of days.

Hughes was Bournemouth's sporting head erstwhile Kerkez moved to nan South Coast from AZ Alkmaar successful 2023.

The Hungary defender dropped a mini hint complete his early connected Instagram recently, posting: "I don't cognize what will hap successful nan adjacent week but Cherries family convey you!"

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport: "Kerkez from Bournemouth is simply a really bully option. He's quick, he's sewage bully feet, likes defending one-on-one. He is very tenacious, awesome energy, and is only 21.

"It fits nan criteria of Liverpool's recruitment squad measured by expertise to advancement and go much of an asset. I deliberation that's rather apt to happen."

The left-back ranks 2nd for astir distanced covered of each Premier League full-backs this play (behind only Fulham's Antonee Robinson) and 3rd for astir sprints.

He has made nan third-most unfastened play crosses successful nan Premier League and has 8 extremity involvements this run (two goals and six assists).

His presence would raise questions astir nan early of Andy Robertson and Konstantinos Tsimikas, pinch nan Reds improbable to request each 3 left-backs adjacent season.

Tsimikas would beryllium nan expected departure but, pinch Champions League liking successful Robertson, his exit alternatively is simply a possibility.

Liverpool were besides 1 of a number of Premier League clubs willing successful Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen earlier his move to Real Madrid was confirmed, truthful a centre-back whitethorn besides beryllium connected nan radar, peculiarly arsenic Ibrahima Konate is into nan last twelvemonth of his statement pinch nary news connected a caller agreement.

A caller striker could besides beryllium pursued, though that will apt beryllium limited connected outgoings successful that position.

On that matter...

Slot could beryllium tempted to refresh his onslaught and some Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez person been linked pinch moves away.

Diaz joined nan Reds successful 2022 but enjoyed his champion goalscoring shape nether Slot pinch 17 successful each competitions including 13 successful nan Premier League.

However, imaginable summertime moves to either Barcelona aliases Saudi Arabia person been touted, and speculation complete his early has only accrued aft Diaz and his woman some wrote lengthy posts connected societal media to Liverpool fans that could beryllium interpreted arsenic farewell messages.

Meanwhile, Nunez has struggled to commencement regularly nether Slot, who has besides made nationalist criticisms of his attitude.

He has had 3 afloat seasons astatine Liverpool since completing a move worthy up to £85m from Benfica - and while his effort is praised by Liverpool fans, he has struggled to people consistently.

"It's clip for a freshen up successful attack," added Murphy.

"I deliberation Darwin has had a batch of chances. If you conscionable simplify it to what we've seen successful position of his publication and minutes played, Slot evidently doesn't fancy him.

"Slot has played a winger, Luis Diaz, up of him arsenic a striker astatine times. That tells you everything you request to know.

"I would beryllium amazed if Darwin stayed. I deliberation nan penning is connected nan wall for him."

Another subordinate whose early is unclear is Harvey Elliott.

The midfielder made 18 Premier League appearances for nan Reds past play but started conscionable 2 games and precocious suggested his early is uncertain by saying "you ne'er cognize what's going to happen".

Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has already departed nan Reds to subordinate Brentford, and a engaged summertime of incomings and outgoings is group to proceed for a while longer yet.