Summerville STORAGE, Van Dijk speaks LATE

The countdown to the summer transfer window is well and truly on and we’ve got the latest Liverpool transfer news for you today (Tuesday 11 June).

With the arrival of Arne Slot, the Reds are actively pursuing more targets to shake up the squad ahead of the new season.

Wirtz agrees with Real Madrid

Real Madrid have reportedly taken the lead in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star midfielder Florian Wirtz, leaving Liverpool in their wake.

Wirtz, 21, has become one of the most sought-after players in Europe after a stellar season, during which his performances were central to Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga title campaign.

Now, with Euro 2024 set to take place on earth from next week, Wirtz is also eyeing international success with Germany, raising his profile even further.

Until recently, Liverpool had been widely mentioned as a potential destination for Wirtz. However, the latest reports from Spain would indicate that the Reds now face significant competition from Real Madrid.

Coach Xabier Alonso Olano Bayer, Florian Wirtz Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany, 10.02.2024, 1. Bundesliga, 21. Spieltag, Bayer 04 Leverkusen – FC Bayern Munich. DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO SEQUENCES *** Head Coach Xabier Alonso Olano Bayer , Florian Wirtz Bayer , Leverkusen, Germany, 10 02 2024, 1 Bundesliga, 21 Matchday, Bayer 04 Leverkusen FC Bayern München DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE AND QUASI-VIDEO SEQUENCES

Newcastle struck terms with the Reds’ target

Reported Liverpool transfer target James Trafford has agreed personal terms with Newcastle ahead of a potential move from Burnley.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims a new bid of around £15m from the Magpies is imminent for the goalkeeper, with former club Manchester City set to receive 20% of any transfer fee agreed between the two clubs.

Whether this is enough to secure the England squad remains to be seen.

It has been reported that Trafford are on Liverpool’s shortlist for new goalkeepers, with Caoimhin Kelleher intending to leave the club this summer to secure first-team football and Adrian San Miguel blocking a new contract offer from the Reds.

Kelleher is the long-term supporter of first choice Alisson Becker, but has now spoken on several occasions about his desire to step down and become No.1 in his own right.

Adrian, meanwhile, is set to return to LaLiga with reports linking him with a free transfer to former club Real Betis.

Those exits would leave sporting director Richard Hughes in dire need of solid goalkeeping options heading into Arne Slot’s first season in the Anfield hot seat.

Liverpool EXCLUDED from Minteh race

The Liverpool Echo admit that Liverpool are in the summer for wingers and wide forwards, but that Yankuba Minteh is unlikely to be one of them.

“The ECHO understands that the Reds, while looking to sign a wide player during the upcoming transfer window, have no current interest in making a move for Minteh, despite Slot’s admiration for the teenager,” says Liverpool’s chief writer , Ian Doyle.

NIJMEGEN, 12.05.2024, Gofferstadion , football, Dutch Eredivisie, season 2023 / 2024, NEC – Feyenoord , Feyenoord player Yankuba Minteh NEC – Feyenoord PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxNED x25215790x Copyright:

Having only signed the Gambian from Denmark’s OB for around €7m last summer, Eddie Howe’s side are now eyeing a fee of around £40m for the winger, who is coming off a superb season on loan at Feyenoord . .

He worked with Arne Slot at De Kuip and from that perspective the transfer links make sense and Newcastle would undoubtedly prefer to take advantage of a fringe 19-year-old than one of their crown jewels like Alexander Isak or Bruno Guimaraes.

Minteh played 27 times for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie last season, scoring 10 goals, and his form has prompted talk of whether Newcastle will be persuaded to cash in this summer.

In wide areas, Liverpool have been linked with Midtjylland winger Dario Osorio, who is a full Chile international, as well as West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus.

Summerville Chase is still on

Liverpool REMAIN in the race to sign EFL Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville despite reports last week that the Reds would look elsewhere for the winger this summer.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims the Anfield club along with Chelsea have been scouting the Leeds striker extensively ahead of a potential summer bid.

Summerville, 22, has long been considered one of the Reds’ top transfer targets following a season in which he scored 19 league goals for Leeds and won the EFL Player of the Year award.

That was until last week, when a report from Leeds Live suggested Liverpool were out of the running for the former Netherlands Under-21 international and would instead pursue a move for Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise.

That report appears to have been dismissed by renowned transfer pundit Romano, who says it is too early to rule out the Reds.

Wonderkid expected to refuse the transfer

Mainz prodigy Brajan Gruda has just enjoyed his season in the Bundesliga, culminating in a call-up to the national team for Germany’s training camp ahead of Euro 2024.

Inter ended the season in strong form, scoring three goals in the last six games of the German league campaign.

He was instrumental in Mainz’s miraculous escape from relegation after the team looked dead and buried after an 8-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in March.

His form has previously put him on the radar of Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle in the Premier League, as well as German champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Photo: Jubel nach dem Schlußpfiff bei den Spielern aus Mainz , hier feiert Brajan GRUDA Fussball 1. Bundesliga am Sa 18.05.2024 VfL Wolfsburg – Mainz 1 – 3 *** Photo Applause after the final whistle by the Mainz players, here Brajan GRU celebrates Soccer 1 Bundesliga on Saturday 18 05 2024 VfL Wolfsburg Mainz 1 3

Sport Bild previously reported that he could be available for around €20 million, a relatively small sum but which may indicate that Gruda’s current contract only runs until 2026.

However, Sky Germany are now reporting that Mainz ARE expecting Gruda to stay at the club next season despite emerging links with Bayern.

Florian Plettenberg says initial talks have taken place over a deal with the Bavarian giants, but Gruda is in no rush to leave his current club.

The Reds profit from the sale of Luis Alberto

Liverpool are set for a small cash injection from the sale of former Red Luis Alberto to Qatar’s Al Duhail.

The Reds signed attacking midfielder Alberto from Sevilla in 2014 for around £7m, but he failed to impress on Merseyside, eventually joining Lazio on a permanent move in 2016.

Liverpool managed to recoup just over £4m from the sale, with Alberto thriving following his move to Roma. He went on to make 307 appearances for the Italian side, scoring 52 times and providing 79 assists.

However, despite Liverpool missing out on the Spain international, who has played just 12 times for the Reds, they are set to cash in on his upcoming move to the Middle East.

After eight years at Lazio, Alberto is preparing to move to Qatar imminently, with a medical reservation for the near future. The deal will set Al Duhail back £8.5m.

It’s good news for Liverpool, who still have a 12% sell-on clause inserted into Alberto’s Lazio contract. As a result, they should receive a fee of around £1m from the sale of the 31-year-old, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Van Dijk contract talks ‘postponed’

Liverpool are planning to delay contract talks with Virgil van Dijk until the end of 2024, according to a shocking new report.

The Liverpool captain is one of three high-profile stars out of contract at the end of the 2024-25 season, alongside Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

There has been no breakthrough in talks for any of the trio at this stage, with new transfer chiefs Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards only officially taking up their roles at the start of the month.

Van Dijk is a transfer target for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, as well as Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.

The 32-year-old recently stated that it would not make sense for the club to hold contract talks at this stage and, according to Football Insider, the focus is now on transfers.

A report states that Liverpool will not prioritize talks with Van Dijk until the end of the calendar year, with the Dutchman free to discuss terms with overseas clubs in January.

Premier League Liverpool – Wolverhampton Wanderers Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 19 May 2024 Photo by Craig Thomas/News Images Copyright: xCraigxThomas/NewsxImagesx

Arne Slot is keen for Van Dijk to continue at the club, according to the report, while Van Dijk recently spoke about his compatriot’s arrival, saying he is looking forward to getting started.

Agreement with Diaz “almost impossible”

It will be “almost impossible” for Barcelona to sign Liverpool striker Luis Diaz this summer due to financial difficulties, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Diaz was one of Liverpool’s strongest players in the final third last season, especially after the turn of the year, and finished the campaign with 13 goals and five assists in all competitions.

The 27-year-old helped the Reds secure Champions League qualification, while he was also instrumental in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup success during Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign.

However, despite a promising end to the season, Diaz has been tipped for an Anfield exit in the summer transfer window, with Barcelona the club most keen on the winger’s signature.

They are not the only sides to have shown an interest in the striker, with Paris Saint-Germain also previously linked.