Liverpool are known to be astute operators in the transfer market and this summer they are proving to be just that.

The Reds have a huge season ahead of them as they look to retain the Premier League title and kick-start a period of dominance.

Plans have already been put in place to try and achieve this as they have been active in the transfer market, with Jeremie Frimpong Liverpool’s first signing of the window.

Liverpool runs into new Florian Wirtz problem that could force squad shake-up	Florian Wirtz to Liverpool: 4 players Bayer Leverkusen could ask for in swap deal	Liverpool fans are convinced Florian Wirtz to Anfield is a done deal after German star's recent social media post

Arne Slot’s side are still linked with many more players, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez keen on the move and Florian Wirtz expected to arrive soon despite the intricacies of the deal.

The German’s transfer to the Reds has been full of twists and turns, although Liverpool are confident of getting it done.

However, his latest request may throw a spanner in the works.

Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Football shirt numbers can be incredibly important to certain players and, sometimes, they even have a special meaning behind them.

Corresponding with the attacking-midfield position that he plays in, Wirtz has donned the number 10 shirt at Leverkusen for two years now, and it looks like he wants to keep it if he makes the switch to Anfield.

In the latest update by German journalist Florian Plettenberg, he confirmed that the 22-year-old wants to keep the same number at Liverpool; however this could be a problem as Alexis Mac Allister already occupies it.

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The Argentine is also highly unlikely to let this happen as he has been one of Liverpool’s standout players this season, suggesting that this could be a potential stumbling block in the deal.

However, Plettenberg confirmed that Liverpool are still optimistic about getting this deal over the line and, if a player is not included, they should expect to pay around £126m for his services.

Wirtz’s options are certainly limited when it comes to taking a number that he has previously had, with 27 the only one available.

This was the number he used at Leverkusen before vacating it for the iconic 10 shirt, with Darwin Nunez the last Liverpool player to wear it and Divock Origi making the shirt iconic before that.

The number 17 is what he uses for the German National Team, but Curtis Jones occupies this at Liverpool already.

It may seem a silly detail to many but to players it can be a big deal, although Liverpool fans will be hoping that it doesn’t stop them demolishing the British transfer record and signing one of the world’s elite.