Liverpool move into the business end of the 2025/26 season in a spot most fans didn’t see coming. After clinching the Premier League title last term, Arne Slot’s side currently sit fifth in the table, and grabbing a Champions League berth for next season is looking like a tall order.
The Reds have picked up just two wins from their last five matches, netting seven goals but shipping eight along the way. A bruising 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final loss at Manchester City really turned up the heat on Slot, and a 2-0 Champions League first-leg defeat at Paris Saint-Germain followed just days later.
While a 2-0 home win over Fulham on 11 April gave them a much-needed boost, the pressure on Slot and his squad remains immense, with the PSG second leg at Anfield tonight and a Merseyside derby against Everton right around the corner. Even with the season hitting some serious speed bumps, the club’s summer recruitment plans are already starting to take shape behind the scenes.
Stuttgart’s £50-60 million price tag puts Liverpool on alert over Stiller
Transfer journalist Pete O’Rourke, speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, estimated that signing Angelo Stiller from Stuttgart would cost somewhere between £50m and £60m. O’Rourke was blunt in his assessment, noting that Stuttgart played it smart with Stiller’s contract to make sure they could hold out for a big fee.
He also mentioned how impressed he’s been with the midfielder, especially on the European stage. He pointed out that when clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Liverpool are all interested, it says everything about the level Stiller is playing at right now.
“You’re probably looking at 50 to 60 million pounds to prise him away from Stuttgart. When I’ve seen Stiller, I’ve liked him, and he has done well in Europe as well.
“Stuttgart have been quite smart with what they have done here, with the release clause move meaning that they can demand a big fee for him in the summer.
“When you have the likes of Man United, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Liverpool interested in you, it means you are a top player with huge potential. I don’t think Stuttgart would stand in his way if they got a big offer for him in the summer.”
Football Insider also confirmed that both United and Liverpool have the 25-year-old on their shortlist for the summer window. The stats certainly back up the noise around him. Stiller has racked up eight goal involvements, two goals and six assists, in 29 Bundesliga outings this season, which works out to about 0.31 goal contributions every 90 minutes.
He’s averaging nearly 79 passes a game with an 88% completion rate, and his creative numbers are elite, putting him in the top bracket of Bundesliga players. Stuttgart likely won’t make a final call on his future until the 2026 World Cup wraps up. (Stats via Footy Stats)
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Does Stiller solve the problem Liverpool actually have in midfield?
I feel he probably does, but the timing is tricky. Liverpool are having a rough year by their standards, dropping from champions to fifth, and the rumours about Arne Slot’s future are getting louder after those heavy losses to City and PSG. Bringing in someone like Stiller is a massive investment, and the summer budget will depend heavily on whether they actually qualify for the Champions League.
That being said, it’s hard to ignore what Stiller brings to the table. Liverpool’s midfield has looked a bit tired at times this season, and Stiller’s knack for dictating play with forward-thinking passes makes him a perfect fit for Slot’s tactics. He has a real maturity in how he reads the game, covers plenty of ground, and has the kind of composure on the ball that separates the top teams from the rest.
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The biggest danger here is waiting too long. With Stuttgart refusing to budge on the price and Real Madrid lurking, Liverpool can’t afford to sit on their hands. If the Reds want to get back to the top this summer, they’ll need to act fast, because a player like Stiller won’t stay on the market for long.
Stiller would be ideal for Liverpool allowing Sboz, Wirtz and Grav to play in front of him with more freedom.