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Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz remains Liverpool's top summer transfer target(Image: Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

Arne Slot travelled to a scheduled transfer meeting with Rayan Cherki recently despite a significant advance in Liverpool's pursuit of the Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, it has emerged.

The Reds have been locked in talks with the Bundesliga outfit over a deal for the sought-after Germany star.

It's believed that Liverpool will have to smash their transfer record to land Wirtz, with Leverkusen valuing the 22-year-old at a monstrous £126million.

It emerged last week that Leverkusen have rejected both of Liverpool's bids to date, with an agreement yet to be reached.

Striking a deal for Wirtz clearly remains Liverpool's priority, especially now that they essentially have a free run at the player after Bayern Munich pulled out of the race - but that hasn't stopped Slot from meeting Cherki for face-to-face talks.

As first revealed by The Athletic, the Lyon attacking midfielder held talks with Slot in France last week after the Dutchman left his holiday briefly.

READ MORE:Transfer news LIVE: Fernandes makes Man Utd decision, Mbeumo latest, Liverpool's Cherki talks and Wirtz approvalREAD MORE:Chelsea move 'clear' in race to beat Liverpool to £60m Hugo Ekitike transfer

Cherki, 21, is widely expected to join Manchester City but is also on Liverpool's radar.

And the club and Slot decided to proceed with said meeting - which was scheduled before their pursuit of Wirtz accelerated - to cover all bases in the case of any unexpected developments in negotiations with Leverkusen.

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The report goes on to add that City are favourites to sign Cherki after shelving their own plans to go after Wirtz, who favours a move to Anfield after being wooed in talks.

Claims that Cherki has a €22.5m (£19m) release clause in his contract are false, the report adds, with Lyon determined to secure a far more substantial fee despite the fact that the player's deal expires next summer.

Arne Slot met with Rayan Cherki last week for talks in France(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

With talks over a deal for Wirtz continuing, there is optimism that an agreement will be reached despite the current stalemate.

It has been speculated that a player could move in the opposite direction with Harvey Elliott and Jarrel Quansah admired by Leverkusen.

Liverpool are also likely to pursue a deal for the Bournemouth left-back, Milos Kerkez, while Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt has emerged as a striker target.

L'Equipe, however, have now claimed that Chelsea are 'clear' in their pursuit of the £60million-rated France Under-21 star, with the Blues aiming to follow up their capture of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town with the former PSG starlet.

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