Liverpool’s transfer window looked like it would be plain sailing at one point.
The Reds’ pursuit of Florian Wirtz looked like one that would be easier than many would have thought when he first said he wanted to join Liverpool, but this hasn’t been the case.
After weeks of negotiations, Fabrizio Romano gave fans the ‘Here we go’ update that they were all waiting for, but contrasting reports say the deal isn’t done yet.
Around £127m is the reported fee and the one that Bayer Leverkusen have been holding out for, although Liverpool have a slightly different stance.
However, the deal is still expected to go through but the finer details still need to be sorted, although it looks like the Reds aren’t just going to roll over and accept a deal that is far from perfect for them.
Florian Wirtz is seen during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at BayArena.
Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
Liverpool still do not want to go as high as £126m
Big deals like this take time and, of course, Leverkusen are going to want to maximise their profit, while Liverpool aim to minimise their expenditure.
The German club have stated from the very start that they want £126m for their star man, but as Liverpool Echo journalist Paul Gorst has reported, the Reds won’t be going that high.
“So Liverpool have offered 114 million, five million up on the most previous bid, which was turned down,” Gorst said on The Redmen TV.
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“This was not sort of rejected out of hand as such, but it’s been the catalyst to bring the two clubs a little bit closer by Leverkusen 126 million, which would be 150 million euros. And that is the sort of magic figure which they are holding out for.
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“It was made very clear to me yesterday that Liverpool will have no intention of going anywhere near 126 million pounds.”
He finished by saying: “So they are eight million pounds short at the moment. There might be a little compromise with the sort of edge up a little bit closer towards that and by Leverkusen bring their asking price down slightly. And that might be where the agreement is finally reached, but until then, talks remain ongoing.”
Liverpool need to get Florian Wirtz no matter what
It is understandable why Liverpool want to maintain their stance as they want to not only show Leverkusen, but other clubs, that they will not be pushed about.
However, after going in so publicly, and after similar scenarios in the past like losing Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, the Reds now need to do whatever it takes to get the deal done.
If they overpay, so be it, Wirtz’s quality will really help them next season and even at £127m, German experts are still saying it is a bargain.
Wirtz desperately wants Liverpool and Liverpool desperately want Wirtz, so fans should be confident that this deal will happen despite both clubs refusing to budge so far.