Florian Wirtz latest, contract talks, negotiations close

Florian Wirtz latest, contract talks, negotiations close - Liverpool transfer stock take

The ECHO's Liverpool correspondent Paul Gorst takes a look at the state-of-play within the Reds' squad ahead of a busy summer

There have been developments on the future of Konate and Diaz. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) (Image: Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images )

While the early opening of the transfer window was facilitated to aid those taking part in this month's Club World Cup, Liverpool are wasting no time using it to their advantage.

Sunday will mark the official registration of Jeremie Frimpong as a Liverpool player after his arrival was confirmed on Friday from Bayer Leverkusen and the triggering of the defender's £29.5m release clause is just the start at Anfield as an intriguing and potentially record-breaking summer begins.

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The Reds remain in talks with Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz having tabled a £109m offer on Friday for the Germany international, while interest in Bournemouth's £45m-rated left-back Milos Kerkez continues.

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But what about those already at Anfield? The ECHO takes a closer look at each department of the squad and what might lie in store.

Goalkeeper: Kelleher out, Mamardashvili in as Alisson remains top dog

Caoimhin Kelleher will move on this summer and finally get his wish to become a No.1 goalkeeper. The Ireland international has been attracting suitors from across the Premier League, including newly-promoted Leeds United, West Ham United and most notably Brentford, who are in the market for a new goalkeeper after selling Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen.

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Liverpool had been hoping to start the bidding at £20m for a player who is into the last 12 months of deal and will now find himself as third choice behind Giorgi Mamardashvili and Alisson Becker. Georgia international Mamardashvili will join this summer after a £29m deal with Valencia was struck last year.

It leaves Kelleher further than ever away from a first-team spot in the Liverpool side and while he will be given a hero's send-off given his Carabao Cup exploits in 2022 and 2024, the Irishman has been eager to kick-start his career as a No.1 for at least 12 months. Brentford are edging close to completing a deal worth up to £18m.

Defence: Left-backs on the agenda as Konate contract talks step up

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While a new deal for Conor Bradley and the arrival of £29.5m Jeremie Frimpong have helped Liverpool move on from the Trent Alexander-Arnold era at right-back, there is also expected to be some movement on the left side.

Milos Kerkez, of Bournemouth, is the primary target to bolster the left-back area and that will inevitably have a knock-on effect for Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.

Speaking in April, Robertson revealed his desire to hold talks to extend his contract, telling Jamie Carragher at Football For Change's Easter Lunch event: "I've had eight wonderful years so far and I have a year left.

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"I am not as young as I once was but I love this club and I have had some great memories here, so let's see what the future holds.

"I still believe I can still produce good performances and some really good performances and I think I have done that this season, so I still think I can produce at the top level and if I can do that then that is where I belong and hopefully I can stay here for many years to come."

Speaking after being given his Premier League winners' medal on Sunday, Tsimikas, cryptically, revealed: "The Greek Scouser’s heart is forever with Liverpool." Newly-promoted Leeds have been linked with the Greece international, who joined in the summer of 2020 in a deal worth around £12m from Olympiakos.

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Talks between Ibrahima Konate's agent and Liverpool over a new deal progressed in late May. The France international is into the final year of his deal and will have Europe's top clubs queuing up for a potential free transfer next summer.

The Reds centre-back, though, insists he is happy on Merseyside and hit out at "completely fake" speculation from some in the media when chatting on his 26th birthday last week.

"You know, I just want to say one thing: Everything you saw on social media is completely fake," Konate said. "I didn't even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it.

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"The rest (speculation) that I want to wait until the end...I want this, all of it is completely fake. And even the big journalists said in November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like: 'Ah, they have more information than me!?'

"Because it was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad because it was not true at this moment. I knew at one moment people would think I didn't want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. We will see what will happen."

It's unclear what the future has in store for Joe Gomez as things stand. The defender has only featured for 11 minutes in 2025, which came before he pulled up with a hamstring injury early on in the FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle in February.

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The defender's last Premier League outing of the term came in December, at West Ham, and there was interest from Newcastle United last summer. Gomez's versatility, though, will count in his favour should he wish to remain on Merseyside.

Midfield: Wirtz addition increases competition as Elliott weighs up future

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With Liverpool determined to thrash out a club-record deal for Florian Wirtz, competition will likely increase in the attacking midfield areas next season. That could see Dominik Szoboszlai used in the position he most prefers, as a deeper midfielder, from next season onwards.

What the potential arrival of the Germany international means for Harvey Elliott, however, remains unclear. The 22-year-old spoke to the ECHO in April about fighting for his place at his boyhood club, saying: "As far as I am aware I am here, here to stay and this is the club I want to be at."

That stance, though, appeared to have softened after the recent defeat at Brighton when he told Sky Sports: "I've tried as hard as I could and whatever happens, happens. It's football at the end of the day and in my opinion, I just need to do what's best for my career."

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Brighton and Borussia Dortmund were linked in January before the speculation was quickly quashed by Elliott himself, but a summer of soul searching might await the England Under-21 international. Liverpool aren't actively searching for buyers but a lot will depend on the wishes of a player who joined as a 16-year-old in 2019.

Wataru Endo is another whose future might come in for speculation but the Japan captain was adamant recently, stating: "If you ask me if I want to throw away the chance to play for Liverpool and move to another team, the answer is no."

Forwards: Nunez days look numbered as Chiesa decision awaits

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The decision to shun Saudi Arabian interest in Darwin Nunez was vindicated by the Premier League title success but a revival of January's advances will see the Reds more open to discussing the sale of the Uruguay striker.

The No.9 started just one Premier League in 2025 - the 3-1 win over Southampton in early March - and it looks increasingly clear that his future will lie away from Anfield as an overhaul of the frontline department awaits.

It's unclear what the next move is for Luis Diaz. The Colombia international joined in January 2022 and has yet to extend terms since his near-£50m switch from Porto, and while the winger insists he is happy on Merseyside, there has been speculation from Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League. His partner, Gera Ponce, posted a social media message on Sunday evening that was widely interpreted as a goodbye to supporters.

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However, having grown in importance for Slot last term while he scored 17 goals, discussions over an extended stay was something Diaz himself believed would be forthcoming imminently.

"From the first day I arrived, I’ve always been happy, calm, enjoying the football played at this great team," he told Telemundo recently.

“We’ll be talking about [a new contract], we’ll talk about it. For me, I would stay however many years it takes, it also depends on the club, everything.

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"These are details that are sorted out separately. Very calm, I’m happy and enjoying the Premier League.”

“I’m really happy to be here," Diaz also told he club's official website over the weekend. "To be part of this great institution, this great club and to have great team-mates around me."

Slot spoke last month about the importance of a full and uninterrupted pre-season period for Federico Chiesa in his attempts to make the grade at Liverpool and the head coach says he expects the Italy international to stay.

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"Does he have a future here? Yes, definitely he has, yes," Slot said. "Definitely. I think everyone playing for us over here has a future over here.

"Next season, if he comes back completely fit, which he has hardly been for the first half-season but then afterwards he became fitter and fitter.

"The next steps should have been playing time, which I couldn't give him. But I can give him playing time in pre-season, so he can build himself up and then go even further."

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Despite that firm insistence, the fact remains that Chiesa started just one Premier League game and featured for 463 minutes across 14 appearances. He was left out of the squad entirely for the final game against Crystal Palace.

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