Liverpool is nearing a significant transfer that will see German international Florian Wirtz move from Leverkusen to Merseyside.
After rejecting a transfer to Bundesliga competitors Bayern Munich, the 22-year-old may finalize his switch to Anfield as soon as this week, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds are acting swiftly in the transfer market following their acquisition of a 20th English top-flight title during Arne Slot’s inaugural season at the club.
Jeremie Frimpong is nearly confirmed as the successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Bournemouth’s left-back Milos Kerkez is heavily linked with a transfer to Liverpool.
There remains a considerable amount of work to be accomplished before Liverpool supporters can flock to the club shop to purchase a Wirtz jersey.
Nevertheless, the number that will appear on the back of those shirts has already been speculated upon, should he complete his significant transfer to the Premier League powerhouse.
Wirtz is extremely unlikely to be able to continue using the number 10 shirt he currently occupies at Bayer Leverkusen.
This is because Argentine midfield maestro Alexis Mac Allister dons that number for the Premier League champions.
With the ex-Brighton star not expected to go anywhere, Wirtz is expected to revert to his old squad number at Leverkusen.
Upon his 2020 arrival at the club, Wirtz took up the 27 shirt, which is currently available at Anfield.
Taking into account the shirt numbers already taken by current Liverpool squad members, it’s a safe bet to assume Wirtz could take up the number most recently worn by Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez.
If he does, supporters will be hoping he can be the first true star to don the number for the Merseysiders.
Per Transfermarkt, only seven players have ever worn the 27 at Anfield.
The first man to take the squad number was goalkeeper Mark Gayle in the 1993/94 campaign.
The shot-stopper only spent one season on loan from Crewe Alexandra, but never made a first-team appearance.
Next up was another ‘keeper – Stephen Pears – who also failed to play a single match for the club.
Haukur Ingi Gudnason was the third man to be given the number, but also the third to never play for the Reds.
This means the first time the adoring Kop actually saw the shirt number in action was when French defender Gregory Vignal joined in 2000.
The left-back, who had an inconsistent spell in England, was followed by Swiss full-back Philipp Degen, who had a similar time at the club.
Divock Origi – who scored several vital goals under Jurgen Klopp, including in the 2019 Champions League final – was the most successful 27 in the club’s history.
The Belgian scored 41 times for the Reds before Darwin Nunez took over the shirt for his underwhelming debut campaign in England.