Florian Wirtz is expected to become a Liverpool player in the summer transfer window after the Reds agreed a £100m deal with Bayer Leverkusen for his services
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Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring for Germany during the Nations League
Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring for Germany during the Nations League
Liverpool will not have to wait long for their potentially biggest signing of the summer to arrive at Anfield. The ECHO understands that the Reds have reached a £100m, potentially rising to £116m, deal with Bayer Leverkusen for attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.
After lengthy negotiations with the Bundesliga club, finally Liverpool have secured their man and he is expected to be officially unveiled as a Red next week when the transfer window reopens. His arrival will smash the current record for the highest fee paid for a player at Anfield which currently rests with Darwin Nunez who arrived for £85m, £21m of which was made up with add-ons.
Virgil van Dijk currently holds the record for the highest guaranteed sum of £75m but both records will be blown out of the water by Wirtz. The 22-year-old will now be added to an exciting attack that is building at Anfield and he shall be sharing a dressing room with his former Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong.
READ MORE: What a £116m Florian Wirtz deal will cost Liverpool - and how they can afford itREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE - Florian Wirtz deal agreed, Hugo Ekitike interest, Goncalo Inacio wanted
Excited supporters are likely going to clamour for Wirtz's name and number on the back of their shirts this summer but exactly which he will receive is currently unknown. During his time in Germany, Wirtz has worn four numbers regularly either domestically or internationally - 7, 10, 17 and 27.
The numbers 10 and 17 are deemed highly unlikely as they are currently held by Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones respectively. The No.7 could become available if its current occupant Luis Diaz leaves for Barcelona this summer, but that is by no means a guarantee.
Fortunately, the number 27 is currently vacant having been last worn by Darwin Nunez in 2023. Wirtz wore this number at Bayer Leverkusen before being upgraded to No.10 so it holds a special meaning to him.
Florian Wirtz pictured in 2022 wearing the No.27 for Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz pictured in 2022 wearing the No.27 for Bayer Leverkusen
Other options available to Wirtz include the No.12 which is currently the lowest likely number that the German midfielder would want having last been worn by Joe Gomez in 2022. He could also potentially wear the No.22 to symbolize his age when he joined Liverpool - this has been free since 2023 when Calvin Ramsay wore it.
Here are the other vacant options available to Wirtz - 6, 13, 15, 16, 23-25, 28-37 and then from 39 upwards they are mainly all free except for 56 (Vitezslav Jaros), 78 (Jarell Quansah), 80 (Tyler Morton), 84 (Conor Bradley), 95 (Harvey Davies).
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