The past several transfer windows saw minimal activity from Liverpool, but that didn’t stop Arne Slot from replacing Jurgen Klopp and winning the Premier League in his first year at the club.
But having achieved such staggering success last term, the Dutch coach has been rewarded by FSG with a series of impressive signings this summer, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz all joining the title-winning side.
Wirtz, in particular, has the potential to become a superstar on Merseyside. Signed from Bayer Leverkusen (after Frimpong) for a British-record £116m fee, the 22-year-old has been described as “the best midfielder in the world” by former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes.
To surpass this incredible acquisition would be a Herculean task, but Liverpool are inclined to try, with sporting director Richard Hughes looking to bag a forward.
Liverpool's summer transfer plans
After a move to Napoli collapsed, Darwin Nunez’s future is currently uncertain. Liverpool want a new centre-forward, and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is the dream.
However, the Sweden star has been priced at £200m, which should put him beyond FSG’s reach.
However, with Luis Diaz mooted for a move away from Anfield this summer and having agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich, perhaps the Reds need to prioritise a bid for a left-sided forward.
And according to reports from Spain, Liverpool could be set to shatter the footballing world with a formal offer for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who is valued at €130m (£113m) by Florentino Perez.
While there is an expectation that Vinicius Jr, 25, will finalise a new deal with Los Blancos sooner rather than later, the protracted nature of the talks could lead Liverpool to swoop in and secure an incredible addition.
What Vinicius Junior would bring to Liverpool
While Liverpool have struck gold with the signing of Wirtz, they might hit an even richer stream through the signing of Vinicius Jr, who has been called “the best player in the world” by Perez in the past.
While there was a fair share of controversy (putting it modestly) around the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the dynamic forward did win The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2024 after missing out on the apex of individual accolades.
Joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in the Brasileiro Serie A for £39m in 2018, making him the most expensive under-19 player in history, Vinicius Jr has since become a superstar on the global stage, one of the most marketable and decorated rising stars of his generation.
Across the past year, he ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 13% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, underscoring the elite danger that could see him surpass even Wirtz at Anfield.
24/25
58
22
19
23/24
39
24
11
22/23
55
23
19
21/22
52
22
17
20/21
49
6
5
19/20
38
5
3
18/19
31
4
9
The Brazil international is a remarkable player, and his sustained brilliance over the past four seasons illustrates his world-class level, which is maybe even higher than Wirtz’s, even though the German has notched 69 goal involvements for Leverkusen across the past two seasons, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2023/24 aftet his outfit’s invincible, title-winning campaign.
Wirtz is the real deal, but he needs to do more at this stage of his career to reach Vinicius Jr’s level, with any far-fetched deal to sign the Madrid superstar set to see him arrive with a pre-existing reputation as a Ballon d’Or contender, a platform Wirtz still needs one final push to reach.
Described as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vini Jr. could be a stunning signing for Liverpool, making a real signal of intent.
While the Reds have already secured a marquee arrival in the form of Wirtz, the South American might just prove to be the cream of the crop, should he arrive in the coming weeks.
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