Liverpool squad now BREAKS Premier League rules

Liverpool's squad now officially breaks Premier League rules. The club must act if they're to compete next season.

Liverpool completed the signing of Florian Wirtz on Friday. It's the biggest arrival in the Reds' history, with a club-record £100m fee.

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But it's also just the biggest in that this is arguably the first time that one of the world's most in-demand players signed for Liverpool. Pretty much every single club wanted Wirtz and it was fully expected that Bayern Munich would get him.

Instead, Liverpool shocked everyone and completed a deal. We can't wait to see what he brings to the team but there is some work to do.

Wirtz's arrival boosts the squad numbers, too, after a couple of sales. However, that's created a problem.

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Liverpool squad breaks Premier League rules

As pointed out my Michael Reid on Twitter, Liverpool's current squad breaks Premier League homegrown rules. The Reds are only allowed 17 players developed outside of England and Wales in their 25-man squad of registered players.

But Wirtz, Frimpong, and the delayed arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili gives Liverpool 18. They cannot register all of their non-homegrown players as things stand.

In fact, even after selling (or simply not registering) one of them, the Reds will still be hamstrung by the rule. They won't be able to add any more, after all, and must look for homegrown talents.

Looking at the list here, it's clear that Calvin Ramsay won't be a part of the first-team squad. So that's at least going to meet the limit.

But the fact that Jarell Quansah is set to join Bayer Leverkusen leaves Liverpool a centre-back short. They won't be able to replace him with a non-homegrown player as things stand - hence the links to Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Now, Liverpool should move on other players this summer to help. Federio Chiesa, Darwin Nunez and Andy Robertson are all linked away. Luis Diaz could depart, too.

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Those sales would free up a lot of flexibility that Liverpool sorely need right now.