Liverpool have submitted a formal proposal for Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, 16, in a direct attempt to hijack Manchester City’s move for the German youth international. According to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Hertha are prepared to accept a fee of approximately €12 million (£10.2m) for the teenager, who is expected to leave the capital this summer. The deal mirrors a developmental structure previously established by City, which would see the player remain in the Bundesliga on loan before moving to the Premier League in 2028.
Registration hurdles and the Bundesliga loan path
As first reported by TEAMtalk, Manchester City had initially designed a multi-year pathway to secure Eichhorn, but Liverpool have now matched that concrete interest. Due to post-Brexit FIFA regulations regarding the movement of minors, English clubs are prohibited from registering EU players until they reach the age of 18. This necessitates a "pre-sign" agreement or a long-term loan back to a European club. Reports from TEAMtalk suggest Bayer Leverkusen is a potential destination for this interim period. Liverpool have recently utilised similar workarounds for non-domestic talent, notably the pre-signing of Colombian forward Samuel Martinez, who will not officially join the squad until 2027.
Squad transition under Arne Slot
The pursuit of Eichhorn highlights a strategic shift toward future-proofing a midfield that has suffered from high turnover and inconsistent form during Liverpool’s fifth-place finish in the 2025/26 season. While Eichhorn represents a long-term investment, the club is simultaneously managing the confirmed departure of Mohamed Salah. According to reports from CaughtOffside, Liverpool are also prioritising 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as a replacement for Salah, weighing up an £86 million (€100m) release clause. Eichhorn’s €12m price tag is notably lower than his estimated €20m market valuation, making the deal a high-value opportunity for a club operating under strict PSR constraints.
Hertha Berlin are expected to make a final decision on the competing bids once the player and his representatives have reviewed the specific developmental pathways offered by both English sides.