Liverpool Step Up Pursuit of Stuttgart's Stiller with £52m Summer Bid

Liverpool are stepping up their efforts to land Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller this summer, with Spanish reports suggesting the Merseysiders are ready to table a bid worth around €60m (£52m) to complete the transfer.

The Reds have endured a frustrating season by their own high standards. After winning the title last year, Arne Slot's side currently sit fifth and face a genuine battle to secure Champions League football for next term—a scenario that could significantly constrain their spending power come the off-season.

The situation at Anfield remains clouded by uncertainty. Slot's position has come under scrutiny following a 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final hammering by Manchester City and a 2-0 first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday. Speculation has swirled that the manager could walk away if offered suitable terms, with Xabi Alonso reportedly waiting in the wings as a potential successor.

Nevertheless, Liverpool are not sitting idle on the recruitment front. The club view Stiller as a central piece of their midfield rebuild, convinced he possesses the attributes needed to transform their engine room. The midfielder's skillset—blending defensive grit with intelligent distribution—aligns neatly with Liverpool's tactical framework. What was once casual monitoring has now evolved into a determined assault on the deal.

Strengthening the wide areas and defensive line remains on Liverpool's agenda as well. Steven Gerrard has publicly advocated for two names to reinforce the squad: Bayern Munich's Michael Olise and former Red Luis Diaz.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard outlined precisely why Olise poses such a threat to defenders. The winger's two-footedness makes him notoriously difficult to contain, possessing equal technical ability on both flanks. His creative output and finishing have been consistently impressive.

When pressed on whether he'd welcome Olise at Liverpool, Gerrard didn't hesitate: "All day long." However, he acknowledged the practical obstacles, questioning why the player would abandon Bayern—a club competing for major trophies and currently boasting one of their strongest squads in recent memory. With the World Cup looming, Olise appears settled and content.

That said, Gerrard made clear his admiration for both targets. On Diaz specifically, the Liverpool legend expressed a genuine longing for the winger's return, suggesting he remains sorely missed on Merseyside.