The £34 million Euro 2024 star Liverpool should really try to sign this summer

With all the quarter-finals now locked in, Euro 2024 is set to spring back into action as the final eight countries continue their battle for glory. We’ve been treated to a thrilling tournament so far and with the summer transfer window now in full swing, clubs can use this time to monitor targets and scout potential extra interests.

A number of players currently competing at Euro 2024 have been the subject of transfer speculation this year. While deals will have to wait until the tournament is over, clubs can still start getting proposals ready for talks towards the end of the month.

One man in particular who has been attracting interest is Joshua Kimmich, who is pushing for a home Euros triumph with Germany this summer. His future at club level however, is up for discussion. The versatile 29-year-old is being pursued by both Liverpool and Manchester United, with CaughtOffside reporting earlier this week that the two sides are ready to ‘open negotiations’ with Bayern Munich over a deal. Manchester City are also lurking on the outskirts too, and could enter the race at any point.

Kimmich’s current contract is due to expire next June, and according to the report, he is ‘not expected’ to be offered new terms. Sport Bild has reported similar, claiming that while Kimmich is ‘open’ to renewing his contract, Bayern are setting tricky conditions which aren’t making it easy for him to agree on a deal. The Bundesliga giants are reportedly looking to reduce his salary ‘by at least a quarter’ which is unlikely to be something he will go for, especially as other clubs are so keen to sign him.

Liverpool are on the market for new defenders as well another addition to the engine room. Recent rumours have linked the Reds will centre-backs, full-backs, and defensive midfielders — Kimmich can be all three. The German star would likely continue to operate in his new favoured No.6 position at Anfield, which Liverpool are still looking to bolster, even after signing Wataru Endō.

While Kimmich would be a strong replacement for Fabinho, who wasn’t afraid to get stuck into defending, the German will also be a very welcome lifeline across the back. Last season, Liverpool were stretched thin defensively amid injuries to Joël Matip, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Fortunately, Conor Bradley stepped up and Joe Gomez impressed once again with his versatility at left-back, but the Reds cannot afford a similar fitness crisis again.

Signing Kimmich means he can also be deployed at both centre-back and right-back, which are two positions his is extremely familiar with. During the last two seasons, the 29-year-old switched between defensive midfield and right-back, but in previous campaigns he has played centrally both in defence and in midfield.

Just last month, Mundo Deportivo reported that Bayern would be looking for a fee in the region of €40 million (£34m). In this market, it’s a rather low asking price, considering the recent deals for the likes of Moisés Caicedo and Declan Rice have caused the market for midfielders in particular to soar. If Liverpool use the remainder of Euro 2024 to build a strong offer, there is a good chance they could bring Kimmich in, which will only improve their current squad after falling short of the Premier League title.