Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net
Arne Slot flew to the south of France last week to meet Rayan Cherki and discuss a possible transfer to Liverpool.
According to The Athletic, the Liverpool head coach briefly left his holiday to conduct the meeting, that was before negotiations with Florian Wirtz accelerated.
It has been widely reported the Lyon star is set to join Manchester City, but The Athletic state Liverpool did its "due diligence" on the transfer and was "preparing for all outcomes".
The report adds that it is "normal to proceed with such conversations" while a priority signing has not yet been secured.
But, a move for Cherki seems dead in the water at this stage, with the Frenchman expected to join City, as Pep Guardiola plots to reconfigure his squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The urgency for the former Premier League champions to concluded business has been heightened due to the Club World Cup which begins in two weeks.
The mini transfer window before the tournament closes next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Liverpool is expected to sign Wirtz, a player City considered.
Reports have indicated the Reds and Bayer Leverkusen remain some way off in terms of their valuation of the player, but a deal is still anticipated.
The fee could be a British record, with Leverkusen reportedly holding out for a figure of €150 million ($171M/£127M).
There will be more to follow on this breaking news story and Liverpool.com will bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video as soon as possible.
Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story as they happen.
Follow @?Liverpoolcom_ : The official Liverpool.com account for all the latest sports news as it happens in real time.
Follow us on Facebook or visit Liverpool.com homepage.
For more news relating to Manchester City, visit our sister site City Latest Live.
![[Valid RSS]](../valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")