Liverpool have opened talks to sign a new German star ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

It could be a busy summer window for the Merseyside club after a disappointing season, which saw them finish fifth in the Premier League.

The Reds qualified for the Champions League, but after winning the title last season, the campaign has to be considered a disappointment as they failed to compete in the race alongside Arsenal and Man City.

Liverpool were busy in the previous summer transfer window, bringing in a host of new additions, but some of them have failed to hit the ground running.

As a result, they need to ensure they are smarter with their recruitment, as they can’t afford another season not competing for the Premier League.

Liverpool Open Transfer Talks

According to a report from Sky Sports reporter Plettenberg, Liverpool have opened talks to sign Kennet Eichhorn ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 16-year-old wonderkid, described as a ‘special’ talent by scout Jacek Kulig, is planning to leave Hertha Berlin in the summer transfer window, and he could move for a fee in the region of £10m due to a release clause.

Despite his age, Eichhorn featured 17 times for Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga’s second tier this season.

Patience Required With Eichhorn

There is no doubt that Liverpool fans and the club will have to be patient if they bring a player like Eichhorn to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

The 16-year-old hasn’t been a guaranteed starter for Hertha Berlin in the second tier of Germany, so there is little chance that he can make the step up to the Premier League instantly.

The German youngster is undoubtedly a huge talent with a bright future ahead, but that doesn’t mean Liverpool needs to rush into things with him if they do secure his signature.

​​​​​​​Taking their time and allowing him to develop, even potentially sending him out on loan, is exactly what he needs in order to fulfill his potential.

Conor McGregor is scheduled to make a return to the UFC with a rematch against Max Holloway. However, the Irishman’s manager has revealed that the American was not the first-choice opponent for his comeback fight.

McGregor will put an end to his five-year MMA hiatus with a UFC 329 bout against Holloway on the 11th of July at the T-Moblie Arena in Las Vegas. The Irishman hasn’t fought in the Octagon since his devastating loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, during which the fight was stopped in the first round by the cageside doctor after Notorious suffered a broken lower tibia.

McGregor was then scheduled to fight Michael Chandler in June 2024 after the pair faced off as coaches on the 31st season of the reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. However, a broken toe suffered by the Irishman saw the bout cancelled just weeks before.

The Dublin-native’s comeback fight will feature as the co-main event in Nevada, alongside the lightweight match-up between Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis, while heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson will face-off against Elisha Ellison.

Conor McGregor’s Manager Speaks About UFC 329

Speaking to MMAJunkie.com at the Usyk vs Verhoeven boxing event in Giza, Egypt, McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, spoke about the choice of opponent for his client’s UFC return.

“I think, from a Max Holloway perspective, we know we got one on Max, and he wants to get that back. We know they faced each other when they were 145ers, and we know that Max is game, and he’s going to put on a great performance. We just felt it was the right match-up.

However, while McGregor will hope to recreate the success he experienced in his first meeting with Holloway, Attar has revealed that he was not the Irishman’s first-choice opponent.

Max Holloway Not First-Choice Opponent For Return

“Conor really wanted to give [his comeback fight] to Michael Chandler. He just felt Michael deserved it, having gone through the show and experienced that camp, the unfortunate injury and the cancellation of the bout.”

And while McGregor may not be making his comeback against his desired opponent, that is not to say it may not still be on the cards further down the line.

Conor McGregor is set to make his return to the UFC this year with his rematch against Max Holloway scheduled for the 11th of July at UFC 329, and his first interview discussing his comeback has got MMA fans talking.

McGregor‘s return to the UFC will come almost exactly five years since his last fight, a devastating loss in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier, which saw the fight stopped by the cageside doctor in round one after the Irishman suffered a broken lower tibia while trying to evade his opponent.

McGregor had previously been scheduled to return to the sport in June 2024 at UFC 303 in a bout against Michael Chandler, a fight set up after the pair faced-off as coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 31. However, a broken toe suffered by the Dublin-native saw the fight cancelled.

Nevertheless, as things stand, McGregor will make his return at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on a card that will see his welterweight rematch against Max Holloway feature as the co-main event, alongside a lightweight showdown between Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis.

Conor McGregor Talks UFC 329 For First Time

In an interview with former US Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill for the Irishman’s new drinks brand Mac Energy, the UFC star spoke on his return to the Octagon.

“July 11th, Sin City, Las Vegas. And the opponent is a man that I have beaten before, in Max Holloway.”

McGregor was quick to recognise his level of opponent, saying: “He is an established fighter, an accomplished fighter. Former UFC world champion, multiple times. Former UFC BMF world champion, so this is a quality opponent and our last bout was martial arts mastery by yours truly, so I plan on doing it again.

A clip of the interview was posted to Reddit, alongside a title saying: “McGregor looks good and talking like a normal, sober person now. He’s back!”

MMA Fans React to Conor McGregor’s Interview

UFC fans were quick to comment on the Irishman’s chances ahead of his return, with one user claiming: “He actually took Max down in that first fight, and honestly, people underestimate Conor’s grappling. I think, in terms of grappling performance against Khabib, he did the best out of most the opponents that Khabib faced.”

“Credit where credit is due, Conor has amazing defence and non-engagement tactics,” another added.

But they were also quick to comment on how good he looked, and how healthy he sounded.

“He seems a little hungry… haven’t seen this Conor for almost a decade,” “Conor sounding locked in no excuses this time,” “Good to see him healthy and training properly again,” and “Win or lose, I hope he stays training. This is the healthiest I’ve seen him in a while,” were all comments made in response to the clip.

Although half a decade may prove to be too long of a break in order to return with any real venom, McGregor’s physical turnaround from the state that he has found himself in over the past few years would suggest that crazier things have happened.