Liverpool are not far away from advancing to the next stage of their transfer strategy with two deals in the pipeline.

Following on, their next may hinge on the outcome of Darwin Nunez's summer.

Upon the reopening of the window, the Reds have already agreed the £116m transfer of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen - that highly anticipated British-record deal can now be finalised with only the last steps of the transfer remaining.



Meanwhile talks continue to make Milos Kerkez a Liverpool player.

Darwin Nunez could ignite Liverpool next big transfer with Hugo Ekitike linked	Liverpool and Chelsea sent defiant £85m message over transfer target Hugo Ekitike	Liverpool given fresh Hugo Ekitike transfer encouragement after €100m demand

Afterwards it is an open book how the club choose spend the rest of their summer, though big hints have been made towards the signing of a striker.

Nunez's exit, as foreshadowed, can facilitate this with funds and space created, plus the No.9 shirt vacated, as the ECHO reported it is his preference to play for a European club if departing.

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With that, we analyse the latest Liverpool transfer news and rumours around the Uruguayan and a possible replacement.

Darwin Nunez price tag

According to The Mirror, Liverpool will be happy to cash in on Nunez this summer in return for a £70m fee.

This would be £6m higher than the base fee they paid Benfica for his transfer in the summer of 2022, and £15m short of the total package they would pay provided the striker met all the criteria of add-on clauses included in the deal.

In line with the ECHO, they say the move to a European club is the player's wish he has made clear, even if Saudi Arabia would be able to 'tick most of the financial boxes'.

Hugo Ekitike latest

One option Liverpool could move for if they replace Nunez is Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike, though BILD report of a lack of progress on that front.

The scorer of 22 goals last is the subject of contact from rivals Manchester United, they say, with Old Trafford chiefs now well informed over the conditions of a €100m (£85m) deal.

Meanwhile the Reds and Chelsea, also supposedly in the fold, have not yet made such an attempt.

Still, what could tip the scales in Liverpool's direction is the willingness of Ekitike to hold out for an approach from Anfield as the club are 'high' on his own list of preferred moves.


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