Next season will be huge for Arne Slot during his reign at Liverpool, looking to build on the success he endured after taking over from Jürgen Klopp last summer.
Very few people would’ve predicted that the Reds would win the Premier League title at the first attempt, especially after only signing one player in the form of Federico Chiesa.
However, with Jeremie Frimpong already arriving at Anfield and a whole host of other European stars linked with a switch to Merseyside, the 2025/26 season will bring new pressure on the manager.
The club will have gone from the hunters to the hunted, and with huge funds being splashed, it will place added pressure on the side to perform in their attempts to claim back-to-back title glory.
After the arrival of the Dutchman, Slot has continued to pursue players to help improve his first-team squad, with numerous names constantly linked with a summer switch to the Reds.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions
Over the last couple of days, players in a whole host of positions have been linked with a move to join Liverpool, further showcasing Slot’s ambitions for his second year at the helm.
The likes of Marc Guehi, Victor Osimhen and Rayan Cherki have all been touted with a move to Anfield, but as of yet, there appears to be little to no movement on any of those deals.
However, the same can’t be said in a deal for midfielder Xavi Simons, with the Reds keen on a move for the RB Leipzig star, according to TEAMtalk’s latest report.
Their update claims that the Reds have noted the 22-year-old as a viable option ahead of the summer window, following his impressive year in the Bundesliga, which saw him register 10 goals and seven assists.
It also states that Slot is a huge admirer of his compatriot, but they will have to pay a fee in the region of £65m to prise him away from the German outfit during the off-season.
Why Liverpool’s £65m target is the dream Wirtz alternative
It’s been no secret that attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz has been a key target for Liverpool over the last couple of weeks, even placing a £110m bid for the Bayer Leverkusen star.
Whilst such an offer was rejected for the 22-year-old, the Reds are set to return to negotiations with the Bundesliga outfit, willing to pay up to £130m – a fee that would break the English record set by Moises Caicedo back in 2023.
It would be a huge statement from the hierarchy that the club are serious about cementing their place at the top of the table next season after the recent title triumph.
However, given the fact that negotiations have slowed down over recent days, it leaves the door open to a potential move elsewhere for other players also on their radar.
Simons could be the perfect alternative, costing half of the fee that Leverkusen are demanding for Wirtz, whilst also offering a better option in numerous areas.
When comparing the pair’s respective stats from this season, the Dutchman has outperformed him in multiple departments, demonstrating why he is “one of the best 10s in the world”, in the words of one analyst on social media
Simons, who’s also been labelled “exceptional” by Bayern’s sporting director Christoph Freund, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists this season, but has registered a higher goal per shot on target rate – having a more clinical edge than the German.
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How Simons & Wirtz compare in the Bundesliga (2024/25) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Simons |
Wirtz |
|
Games played |
25 |
31 |
|
Goals & assists |
17 |
22 |
|
Goals per shot on target |
0.4 |
0.2 |
|
Pass accuracy |
79% |
78% |
|
Key passes completed |
2.2 |
2.1 |
|
Carries into final third |
3 |
2.7 |
|
Aerials won |
42% |
20% |
|
Fouls won |
2.4 |
1.4 |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
He’s also completed more key passes and carries into the final third per 90, having the creative side to his game that could allow other players around him to thrive to Anfield.
The Dutch star has also won more aerials and won more fouls per 90, offering a constant threat to the opposition backline, handing Slot an impressive option within attacking areas.
There’s no denying that Wirtz is the main option in such a department, but a deal for Simons could prove to be a better signing, costing half the fee but providing just as, if not more, of an impressive option.
Should a deal fall through for the Leverkusen star, the Leipzig youngsters should be the club’s main priority, needing to act quickly to avoid him being snapped up by a divisional rival.
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