-Credit:Getty Images
There are still question marks over whether Liverpool will do any business during the January transfer window, but it could be getting a headstart on a summer deal already.
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, talks have begun with FC Nurnberg about a summer transfer for Stefanos Tzimas. It’s worth noting that the 19-year-old isn’t actually a Nurnberg player, but might be soon.
Tzimas is currently on loan with the 2. Bundesliga side from Greek club PAOK. The teenager has certainly made his mark in Germany with eight goals and two assists from 15 appearances, and that has led to plenty of interest from elsewhere.
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As well as Liverpool, Chelsea, Brighton, Aston Villa and other German sides have been linked, although the Reds look to have taken the first steps toward making a move for Tzimas.
Plettenberg claims that there has been a phone call between Liverpool and Nurnberg in recent days, while the Reds are also said to have spoken to the player’s camp. Although he isn’t currently under contract at Nurnberg, they are planning to activate an $18.4m (£15.1m/€18m) buy option with the intention of selling him directly in the summer.
With that in mind, a price tag of $25.5m (£21m/€25m) plus add-ons has already been mooted should Liverpool want to follow up on those initial talks. That does mean it could be a bit of a risk for the Reds, although Tzimas is seen as an exciting prospect.
Stefanos Tzimas has eight goals from 15 appearances for FC Nurnberg this season -Credit:Getty Images
Having joined PAOK at the age of seven, he worked his way through the ranks in Thessaloniki, going on to earn a call-up to the club’s senior side soon after his breakthrough with the B team. Aged 17 years,1 month and 27 days old, he became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in a 6-0 win over Ionikos in March 2023.
In total, he scored five goals in 30 appearances for PAOK – although most of those appearances came off the bench – before he made his move to Nurnberg last summer. He has since shown his finishing skills with aplomb, which will no doubt attract Liverpool.
Given there are growing doubts about Darwin Nunez at Anfield, it would make sense for the Reds to start looking at new forward options. Tzimas would certainly be one for the future, and perhaps throwing him in at the deep end in the Premier League might prove to be a risk, but given the interest surrounding him, his signing could prove to be something of a coup.