Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is set to officialise his move to Liverpool
Bayer Leverkusen have sent a three-word message as Florian Wirtz closes in on a move to Anfield. The Germany international is set to officially join Liverpool on Friday, having completed a medical ahead of his £116million move from Leverkusen.
Initial conversations regarding the 22-year-old Wirtz were held with the Bundesliga side during discussions about Jeremie Frimpong, who joined the Reds for £29m last month after his release clause was triggered.
Talks over Wirtz were ramped up when he made clear his preference to move to the Premier League champions on May 23.
However, Liverpool saw an initial bid of £109m turned down before launching a further offer of £114m.
That fee brought the two clubs closer to an agreement, which was eventually sealed with a £116m move.
Wirtz travelled to Merseyside on Thursday and successfully completed the first part of his medical, according to Sky Germany. They added that the main part of his medical was being conducted on Friday morning.
As his move nears completion, at lunchtime, Leverkusen shared a short compilation of the playmaker on the pitch on social media with the caption: "He’s very good."
His move from the Bundesliga hasn’t been well received in Germany. Borussia Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke described the transfer as a 'real shame.'
"It's a real shame, especially for the DFL (German Football League), that a player like Florian Wirtz is disappearing from the Bundesliga," he said.
"I wouldn't have had a problem at all if he had gone to FC Bayern.
"That would have been better for the Bundesliga.
"He could have played better with [Jamal] Musiala in Munich, but two such good footballers find each other anyway."
Despite reports of Wirtz being offered a six-year deal, it's expected he will sign on until 2030.
He is expected to resume his holiday before linking up with his new Reds teammates at the AXA Training Centre on July 7.