However, it is the imminent signing of Wirtz<\/a> from Bayer Leverkusen that has really got supporters excited, with the 22-year-old playmaker on course to shatter numerous transfer records once the deal finally crosses the line.<\/p>\n Talks over his signing have continued on Tuesday between the Reds and the Bundesliga side, and there remains optimism a deal will be struck despite doubts creeping in suggesting an impasse has been reached over Liverpool\u2019s point-blank refusal to meet Wirtz\u2019s asking price<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the Reds are not yet at the stage where they can park negotiations, the club are busy working behind the scenes on a number of other deals \u2013 and the next one of which is likely to be fueled by a number of high-profile departures.<\/p>\n And according to reports from Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool very much remain active in the hunt for Ekitike.<\/p>\n And while Eintracht Frankfurt have been locked in talks with Chelsea over a deal to sell the striker to the Blues, their refusal to meet the Bundesliga side\u2019s asking price appears to have put their chances of a move on ice.<\/p>\n Indeed, per Plettenberg, Chelsea now have zero chance of landing the France Under-21 striker before Tuesday\u2019s 7pm deadline ahead of the Club World Cup, backing up claims made by our man Fraser Fletcher earlier in the day<\/a>.<\/p>\n And Chelsea\u2019s delay could open the door again for Liverpool, with Plettenberg posting on X: \u2018No agreement yet between Hugo Ekitike and Chelsea. Eintracht Frankfurt have also not received an official offer.<\/p>\n \u2018A participation in the Club World Cup is currently ruled out. Unclear how things will progress with Chelsea.<\/p>\n \u2018A deal in the next transfer window is still possible, but Liverpool remain in the race and have also held concrete talks with the player\u2019s camp, as Nunez, Jota and Chiesa are all candidates to leave.\u2019<\/p>\n GO DEEPER<\/strong>\u00a0\ud83d\udd34\u00a0Florian Wirtz: Four transfer records that Liverpool will shatter when blockbuster deal goes through<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Liverpool plan to offload seven stars, with Ekitike to follow Wirtz<\/strong><\/p>\n And while Chelsea appear unwilling to meet the \u00a384.6m (\u20ac100m, $114.5m) asking price on the striker\u2019s head, it\u2019s understood Liverpool would be willing to go nearer that figure if it ensures they can get the deal done.<\/p>\n To help the possible double arrival, Liverpool will allow a number of players to depart this summer to both free up space in their squad and ensure some money is brought back into the Anfield coffers.<\/p>\n And as Plettenberg has touched upon, Liverpool are very much open to the exits of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota \u2013 as exclusively first revealed by TEAMtalk<\/a> \u2013 and Federico Chiesa this summer.<\/p>\n Per the Daily Mail, Liverpool have set a \u00a370m (\u20ac82.7m, $95m) fee on Nunez\u2019s head as he continues to attract attention from the Saudi Pro League.<\/p>\n However, the Uruguayan is unlikely to be the only forward to leave, with the Reds open to the exits of both Jota and Chiesa too.<\/p>\n Per\u00a0The Athletic<\/a>, the trio could be just three of seven players destined to leave over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n And they write that\u00a0Harvey Elliott, Nat Phillips, Kostas Tsimikas and Tyler Morton could all be available to leave as well, while Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros could be set to leave Anfield on loan.<\/p>\n As for Ekitike, a potential move to bring the 22-year-old to Anfield would also be backed by Jamie Carragher.<\/p>\n Speaking on The Overlap<\/a>, Carragher stated:\u00a0\u201cThe one every club would like is Isak. I\u2019m not sure we\u2019re in a position where there are absolutely great centre forwards around that you can take your pick.<\/p>\n \u201cDo I think Liverpool can buy Isak? I don\u2019t know. I\u2019m not sure Liverpool would want to pay that type of money for that player, it\u2019s not the model, the model is \u2018we\u2019ll get the next Isak\u2019. Liverpool will be probably kicking itself thinking, \u2018why didn\u2019t we get Isak from Real Sociedad?\u2019 I don\u2019t think Liverpool will go break the bank for him.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s the lad at Eintracht Frankfurt who scored against Tottenham, that smacks to me the type of player Liverpool would sign.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s 22, he\u2019s at a club who\u2019d be a selling club, done very well there, went to PSG as a very young boy after lighting up the French league, but it didn\u2019t quite work out for him. He\u2019s got great numbers and the type of player that Liverpool would sign rather than maybe going for an Isak.\u201d<\/p>\n Liverpool transfer latest: Reds offered Real Madrid star;\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile,\u00a0Liverpool have been offered the chance to finally land Aurelien Tchouameni<\/a> after reports in Spain named the Frenchman as one of three players told they have no future under new Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso.<\/p>\n Despite that offer, Slot is reported to have come to a very rapid verdict on the long-term Reds target.<\/p>\n Elsewhere on the outgoing front,\u00a0Cody Gakpo, though, looks likely to stay after delivering a 24-word rebuttal to Bayern Munich rumours<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![\"Florian](\"https:\/\/images.www.teamtalk.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/22090832\/florian-wirtz-2.jpg\")
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