With planning already underway for 2026 signings, one player’s agent has now revealed where his client sees himself playing amid interest from Chelsea and Liverpool.
Klopp becomes latest to defend Florian Wirtz
After Julian Nagelsmann came to Wirtz’s defense last week, iconic former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp did the same. The midfield star has so far struggled to adapt to life at Anfield – neither scoring nor assisting in seven Premier League games – but retains the full confidence of those who watch him.
“His quality is so exceptional that the talk is a bit exaggerated. Liverpool have just lost three games in a row, which is unusual.
“But it’s also normal in life and that’s why such things are discussed there. [Wirtz is] a once-in-a-century talent, and at some point he will show it again in every match – just like he did in Leverkusen. ” (Klopp about Wirtz)
It’s true that the former Bayer Leverkusen star had a difficult start in Liverpool colours, but it’s also true that Arne Slot’s side as a whole haven’t been firing on all cylinders.
When Wirtz came off the bench against Chelsea, it quickly became clear that he was not the problem in a Liverpool team that entered the international break on the back of three consecutive defeats.
So questions were asked throughout the break and those questions must be answered against Manchester United in a game that Liverpool simply must win.
The Reds’ recent form has also sparked a number of transfer inquiries. Despite spending big this summer, twice breaking their transfer record to sign Wirtz then Alexander Isak, those at Anfield could still welcome new reinforcements in 2026.
Among them, there might even be a player who already has his transfer preference in mind ahead of the 2026 window.
Fofana’s agent outlines transfer preference
Among Liverpool’s targets is Malick Fofana, according to Caught Offside. The £50million-rated winger appears destined for big things, with the Reds, Chelsea and others keeping a watchful eye on his development at Lyon.
Amid such interest, the ball appears to be in the Belgian’s court and his agent is therefore aiming for big things. Speaking to reporters about his client, Frederico Pena said: “This is the season Fofana wants to show himself to the world, especially at the World Cup. If he succeeds, he can go from Lyon to one of the top ten clubs. We strongly believe in him at Roc Nation. Liverpool, Bayern, Man City – these are the clubs he belongs to.”
By naming Liverpool rather than Chelsea alongside Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Fofana’s agent has just given those at Anfield a boost.
Given that Mohamed Salah’s contract expires in 2027, the Lyon star wouldn’t really be a bad option. The 20-year-old has the ability to play on both flanks and was described as “explosive” by analyst Ben Mattinson last season after scoring 11 goals and setting up six more in all competitions.
