What Felix Nmecha claim says about Liverpool summer transfer approach

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

You didn't really think the trifling matter of a World Cup was going to stop the relentless transfer machine, did you?Liverpool proved that in surprising fashion last week with their swoop for Spain international winger Victor Munoz when triggering his £34.5million release clause at La Liga side Osasuna.The first signing for new head coach Andoni Iraola, it will be the start of a busy summer given Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have already bid their farewells with the latter two moving to Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid respectively.The already-agreed arrival of £60m Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes will at least cover in part for Konate's loss, while Liverpool are assessing a number of options to further bolster their attack with RB Leizpig wide man Yan Diomande their chief target.While filling the gaps left by the departed trio is a priority, strengthening a squad that in the last two seasons has shown itself to not have the same depth as their main rivals will also be the task of Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and his recruitment team.However, there is one area where the Reds are not considering a reshuffle. Well, at least not yet.Reports out of Germany on Tuesday claimed Liverpool were among a number of clubs to have made enquires about Dortmund's Germany international midfielder Felix Nchema.It has been reported Nmecha, who is 25, has a release clause of €80million (£69m) applicable in the summer of 2027 which drops to €70m (£60m) the following year.However, there is no clause this summer, which would allow Dortmund to set whichever price they want for the player.Having started his career coming through the ranks at Manchester City - he made three senior appearances before moving to Wolfsburg - Nmecha would be regarded as a homegrown player, making him particularly attractive to Liverpool given their current shortage of such senior squad members.The Reds are doing their due diligence on a host of potential targets, both in the immediate and long-term future.

At present, they are already well-stocked in central midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo, along with youngsters Trey Nyoni and Stefan Bajcetic.Of course, each is in a significantly different position regards their Liverpool careers. Gravenberch earlier this year penned a new long-term deal and Szoboszlai has been offered one, suggesting the duo are firmly in Liverpool's plans, while Nyoni, still only 18, and Bajcetic, returning after several injury-hampered years, could be primed for loan moves.Not so certain, though, are the futures of the remaining triumvirate.

Jones is entering the last 12 months of his contract with Liverpool open to a sale, although Inter Milan have thus far shown no appetite of meeting the asking price of £30m-plus with Aston Villa also keeping tabs.Endo is also out of contract next season and, at 33, is very much nearer the end of his playing days. And Mac Allister has been a long-time target for Real Madrid and, unlike Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, has pointedly not been offered a new contract yet with two years of his current deal remaining.Liverpool will be spinning plates all summer and evidently would prefer not to bolster their midfield ranks until one or more players are moved on.