As agreed upon, Liverpool “makes decision” regarding free agent

Liverpool have chosen not to pursue Oumar Solet, who has agreed to join Serie A club Udinese in the January transfer window. The 24-year-old had been considered as a potential replacement for Joel Matip but is now set to move to Udinese after concluding his contract with Red Bull Salzburg this summer.

Matip’s departure at the end of last season sparked speculation that Arne Slot might look to bring in a new center-back to Anfield. Matip, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Schalke in 2016, ended his tenure at the club due to a series of injuries that impacted his final seasons.

Despite these challenges, he was instrumental during Jurgen Klopp’s successful era, contributing to the team’s triumphs in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.

Liverpool may have aimed to achieve similar success with Solet, who demonstrated his capabilities at Salzburg, winning two consecutive Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup doubles during his four-year stint.

However, the *Mirror* reports that Solet is close to finalizing his move to Udinese, with both parties having reached an agreement and the Serie A club completing the final steps of the deal.

In Saturday’s match against Wolves, Ibrahima Konate scored first but later made a critical error that allowed the visitors to equalize. Slot expressed to Match of the Day, “The goal we conceded was definitely avoidable and it was unnecessary.

It came at a bad time because we had total control over the game. By conceding this way, they came back into the game and the good thing for us is we immediately scored to make it 2-1. With only one goal making the difference, it makes it a difficult game until the end.”

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Arsenal plans bold move for £125m Liverpool target after transfer reversal

Arsenal is reportedly considering a bold move for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz in 2025, following Liverpool’s interest over the summer.

The 21-year-old Wirtz has drawn attention from several top European clubs after a standout season, scoring 18 goals for the German champions. His impressive performance at Euro 2024 this summer and four league goals in as many matches this season have further heightened interest in him.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal is experiencing a revival, rekindling their appeal as they pursue some of Europe’s top talents. According to a report from SportBild, via Sport Witness, Arsenal has joined Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in vying for Wirtz, who attracted significant transfer interest over the summer.

Arsenal has been a long-time admirer of Wirtz, valued at €150 million (£125 million), having scouted him even before his move to Leverkusen in 2020, although he wasn’t interested in a transfer to England at that time.

Having won the Bundesliga title last year, Wirtz is now seeking a club capable of Champions League success to enhance his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or in the future.

Arsenal’s resurgence under Arteta makes them a feasible option, although Real Madrid is reportedly the frontrunner to secure Wirtz next summer, particularly given their interest in Leverkusen’s head coach, Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool had shown strong interest in Wirtz ahead of Euro 2024, but his father, Hans, addressed the speculation directly, clarifying that his son was not seeking a transfer at that time. He stated to Bild: “Florian has a contract in Leverkusen.

And he’s looking forward to next year at Bayer 04 when he can play in the Champions League with Leverkusen for the first time. Those are the facts.

“Now the focus is on the Euros. After that there’s a lot to do with the club next season, so there’s no need for speculation. There’s really nothing to say beyond that.”