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Liverpool have had their eyes on this target for quite some time now and it looks like they are finally about to secure their man.

The Reds have been busy already this summer and fan excitement has been building as they have been linked with some of Europe’s biggest names.

Jeremie Frimpong has already arrived at Anfield this transfer window from Bayer Leverkusen, with many more stars rumoured to be joining ahead of a big summer of change at Liverpool.

One of the hottest transfer stories so far is that of Florian Wirtz.

Wirtz looks set to join Arne Slot’s side for a club-record fee as they look to retain the Premier League title next season.

However, with the German costing in excess of £100m, Liverpool will have to break the bank to sign him.

As it turns out, however, the Reds could have saved a lot more money if Michael Edwards had got his own way just five years ago.

Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images

While Jurgen Klopp took many of the plaudits for bringing back Liverpool’s success, it was Edwards who was the mastermind behind all the club’s achievements after working hard behind the scenes.

Although he looks set to bring one of the world’s most exciting players to Liverpool now, German outlet BILD have reported that Edwards has actually had plans in place for quite some time to make Wirtz a Liverpool player, with contact beginning in 2020.

The 45-year-old reportedly spoke to the playmaker’s family while he was playing for the FC Koln youth team and is said to have stayed in contact ever since, even while he joined Bayer Leverkusen.

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Edwards left Liverpool in 2022 in search of a new challenge, but re-joined two years later.

Upon arriving back at Anfield he is said to have intensified his efforts to sign Wirtz ever since, with it looking like he may have finally secured his man.

Expectations for Wirtz will certainly be high, but with Edwards hardly getting transfers wrong, as well as being so patient with finally making this move happen, it would be no surprise to see the Germany international come in and hit the ground running.

First joining in 2011, it wasn’t until 2016 that Edwards was appointed sporting director and made a real name for himself at the club, with his transfer decisions setting the club up for success.

During his time in this role, Edwards convinced Klopp to sign Mohamed Salah instead of Julian Brandt, as well as bringing in the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson – among many more.

Since coming back in a promoted role three years ago, he now oversees the whole operation and works alongside Richard Hughes in obtaining new talent, and the pair may have just secured the best one of the lot.

It has certainly been a manic summer for both of them, but as of yet, it shows no signs of slowing down and Liverpool could be a frightening prospect next season.