Liverpool find themselves amid the highest-profile transfer saga this summer. They are keen to bring German playmaker Florian Wirtz to Anfield, with many journalists seemingly convinced it is a matter of when, not if, he makes the move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Should this deal be completed, it would represent a milestone for the Reds, given the profile of other interested clubs Wirtz has spurned.
The figures associated with this transfer would be eye-watering, but that is for good reason. Wirtz is already an established name, both domestically and internationally, at 22, and it is logical to expect he will be the face of Arne Slot's Liverpool in a post-Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk world.
Naturally, there will be those who benefit from an addition like this, and those who stand to lose potentially a place in the squad or general playing time. Here are a few below.
Winner: Mohamed Salah
Last season, the Egyptian shrugged off constant contract speculation and put forth his best statistical season to date in a red shirt.
While he did not entirely carry the Reds to the Premier League title offensively, his role in it was enormous, and the burden he shouldered was cumbersome.
Great as he is, it would be unrealistic to expect the 32-year-old to replicate his record numbers next season.
With the addition of Wirtz, he likely will not be asked to. Salah and Wirtz are the only two players in Europe's top 5 leagues to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists the past two seasons. Wirtz will help to ease Salah's burden, ideally allowing him to elongate his career.
Loser: Harvey Elliott
Seemingly already on the periphery for Arne Slot, a move for Florian Wirtz would likely guarantee an exit for Harvey Elliott.
They are both the same age and occupy some of the same positions on the pitch, leaving Elliott's already meager amount of minutes likely to take a hit should he choose to stay at Anfield.
The 22-year-old has already hinted at an exit, talking of the need to evaluate his options this summer and mentioning he is keen to not be 'wasting years' of his career.
Sad as it would be to see him go, a move away might be best for all parties.
Winner: Arne Slot
This transfer marks the first time Arne Slot has truly demonstrated his prowess in the transfer market, showcasing his ability to sell a target on his vision for the club and how he would fit into it.
It cannot be overstated how impressive it is for the Dutchman to be able to convince Wirtz to spurn the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City for Anfield.
The sanctioning of this transfer can also be interpreted as a signal of the club's belief in Slot, and rightly so.
It is a fascinating prospect to see what Liverpool morphs into as Slot can shape the squad more to his liking, with Wirtz the centerpiece of his plans.
Loser: Manchester City and Arsenal
The arrival of Wirtz will elicit groans at the Etihad and the Emirates, home of the two biggest challengers to Liverpool's title defense next season, Manchester City and Arsenal.
This transfer is a massive signal to the rest of the Premier League, and particularly to those two clubs, that the Reds do not plan to get complacent and rest on their laurels.
The current makeup of the Liverpool squad has allowed them to enter the transfer market calmly and deliberately rather than scrambling to fill glaring weaknesses.
As a result, they can make a splashy transfer like Wirtz to finish off their squad, a terrifying prospect for any Premier League hopefuls.
Winner: Dominik Szoboszlai
If the Hungarian's own words are to be believed, the arrival of Wirtz has the potential to be a good thing, should Slot opt to use the German as more of an attacking midfielder.
In Liverpool's recent match against Brighton, the 24-year-old's role was tweaked, with Slot deciding to play him in a deeper midfield position rather than high up the pitch as he had been for the majority of the season.
Slot addressed this directly ahead of the match, stating, "He sees his best position as an eight."
Wirtz coming in and playing as an attacking midfielder would allow Szoboszlai to get more time in a position he seems to favor, potentially revealing a new side of the versatile Hungarian.