In this week’s Blood Red column, we examine what Liverpool’s pursuit of Jeremie Frimpong and their interest in Florian Wirtz reveal about their determination to retain the Premier League crown.
Just days after securing the title, Arne Slot admitted the low stakes in the final stretch of the campaign had given him time to look ahead. With the league sewn up and pressure eased, Slot could shift focus to strategy and recruitment for next season in close dialogue with new sporting director Richard Hughes.
“Of course, I’d already started thinking ahead – it’s not like we won the title and suddenly Richard called out of the blue to discuss transfers,” Slot said. “It’s just now there’s more time to really dive into those conversations, which wouldn’t be the case if we still needed points.”
So it’s little shock that Liverpool have moved quickly following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s confirmation he’ll depart at the end of June. The club have long known of his decision and acted swiftly by stepping up their move for Jeremie Frimpong this week.
If preliminary talks were on hold until the title was secured, then this week’s developments with Frimpong have been anything but passive. The Netherlands international has a reported £30m release clause, and with his openness to the move, Liverpool have entered discussions with purpose.
Slot stayed tight-lipped on Frimpong in Friday’s media duties, but the club are working actively to finalise a deal, with personal terms and the release clause not seen as major obstacles.
And it’s not just Frimpong. Liverpool have also contacted Florian Wirtz’s representatives to express their interest in the Bayer Leverkusen star. Though the feeling at Anfield is that Wirtz will likely stay in Germany—either with Leverkusen or possibly Bayern—the Reds making their intentions known shows ambition.
As Premier League champions, Liverpool have every reason to think big. With a dominant 15-point lead heading into the season’s final stretch, their competitors appear vulnerable—Arsenal still lack firepower, and City are clearly in a transitional phase.
Back in 2020, Liverpool’s planning was more cautious. The uncertainty brought by COVID-19 and empty stadiums prompted a reserved approach in the market. Even so, the club still spent £70m across deals for Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, and Kostas Tsimikas. Though the failure to replace Dejan Lovren proved costly after injuries struck, the summer business overall reinforced a strong squad.
This time, there’s little sign of hesitation. Slot and Hughes appear intent on acting early and decisively. This is a notable shift from 2019, when the club’s Champions League win led to a quiet summer, with only Adrian, Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott joining. That gamble paid off spectacularly as Klopp’s side went on to dominate the league.
But in 2025, there’s a sense that parts of the squad are reaching the end of a cycle. With Alexander-Arnold leaving, and possibly more change ahead, Liverpool’s early moves for Frimpong and Wirtz paint the picture of a club unwilling to rest.
As fans head into a Bank Holiday weekend basking in the glow of another league triumph, the message from Merseyside is clear: the champions are not standing still—they’re ready to go again.