Florian Wirtz has supposedly arrived at Cologne airport before he jets in to Liverpool to complete a potentially record-breaking transfer to the Premier League.
Having been on holiday this week, where he was spotted hanging out with future Reds teammate Jeremie Frimping, Wirtz is now set to complete the required medical tests before he is announced as a new Liverpool player. It is understood that an agreement worth a guaranteed $136 million (£100 million) with a further $22 million (£16 million) in add-ons was struck last week.
Bayer Leverkusen was reluctant to lose its star man for a fee that it felt didn't represent his value, but after negotiations, the two parties came to a deal. Bayern Munich had been the frontrunner for Wirtz's signature before Liverpool moved in front in the race.
Bayer Leverkusen had initially intended to demand a fee of around $170 million (£126 million) for Wirtz. Liverpool had offered a guaranteed $136 million (£100 million) plus $18 million (£13 million) in add-ons before a compromise was reached.
Wirtz has now been spotted by Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg. He will fly to Liverpool, where the transfer can be finalized.
"I think he’s the best player (Germany has) got," former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann said on the Aldo Meets podcast this week. "Obviously he won’t be cheap, but I think he’s a player who makes other players better.
"[Fellow Germany international Jamal] Musiala likes to dribble, he likes to play on his own. But Wirtz is somebody, because if you look at the team now, Frimpong, I think he’s valued at 40 million, he’s coming for, he came to Leverkusen for probably half the money.
"And part of the reason why all the team is now worth probably a double of what they were worth before is Wirtz, because he brings them into play.
"He’s got a great eye for his teammates, he’s got a brilliant touch, he can finish himself. And he always got an eye for the pass. Obviously one thing is seeing the pass, the other thing is executing. But he does both.
"For me, he’s probably the best player in Europe in the position at the moment. And he played in a team that finished, well, they were 16th or 17th when Alonso took over. So they end up winning the league the season after, this year they finished second.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Fanatics Official Sports Apparel — Liverpool
"Part of the reason, or the biggest reason, is Florian Wirtz. And if he comes to a team, which is even better than Leverkusen, I think it could be a perfect match.
"I don’t think it will take too long, if he does come here, which I think he will, before the punters love him here. And the thing, why I think he will be a success, is that he can look after himself. He’s like a street kid. So he won’t shirk a challenge.
"He will be looked after by his teammates, I’m pretty sure, because he will be one of the main players next season. But if he needs to, he can look after himself. And he won’t be worried, he won’t be afraid of any physical presence shown against him."