Liverpool Gives Up Pursuit Of 6 Potential Summer Transfer Targets, According to Report – News18

Liverpool have already begun to prepare for the post-Jurgen Klopp era. Arne Slot is set to succeed Jurgen Klopp at the club with Richard Hughes joining Liverpool as the new sporting director. Amid these major developments at the club, it has now been revealed that The Reds have dismissed six players whom they were once interested in signing.

As per the Liverpool Echo, these names include some high-profile figures such as Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Newcastle United’s Yankuba Minteh. The other three names are- Atalanta’s Ederson, Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio and Porto FC’s Alan Varela.

Liverpool fans will be shocked to hear the aforementioned names, especially Watkins. The Aston Villa star was phenomenal this season, scoring 27 goals in 53 appearances for his side. It was previously rumoured that Liverpool were one of the active pursuers of the Aston Villa forward but a £70-plus million price tag has resulted in the club taking a backfoot in signing Watkins.

Wirtz is another big name that Liverpool are, reportedly, no longer pursuing. Sharing several similarities with Ollie Watkins, Wirtz is a tested forward. Representing Bayer Leverkusen last season, the German notched 18 goals and 20 assists. He also won the Bundesliga title under the management of Xabi Alonso. But an expected price tag of £100 million or more seems to be not sustainable for the Merseyside-based outfit.

Newcastle United’s Minteh, on the other hand, played a key role in Arne Slot’s Feyenoord last season. Yet, the young winger will likely not be reuniting with his former boss at Liverpool. Atalanta’s Ederson is another name who was claimed to be one of Liverpool’s first signing of the summer for a fee of £40 million. But it has now been reported that Ederson is not on the list of priority signings for the Reds.

Liverpool are also currently looking for a central defender after Joel Matip left the club on a free transfer. Goncalo Inacio was initially on the radar for Liverpool but it has now been reported that the 22-year-old is not on the club’s priority list either. Liverpool’s links with Porto FC’s Alan Varela have also been dismissed by his agent. The Argentine talent reportedly bears a release clause of £60 million.