Liverpool have now made contact over a move for an "unbelievable" £126m star, who they are interested in bringing to Anfield this summer, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.
Reds stepping up summer transfer plans
The summer transfer window isn't officially open until June, but the Reds have already made progress towards securing an early signing, with a deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong now believed to be close.
Frimpong has been identified as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the right-back set to join Real Madrid this summer, and while Virgil van Dijk has committed his future to the Reds, Arne Slot is also keen on strengthening in the centre of defence.
AFC Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen is among the more ambitious targets, but amid interest from Real Madrid, talks have now been opened over a deal for Benfica centre-back Tomas Araujo.
Liverpool players celebrate after winning the Premier League Related
[Deal close: "Sensational" £34m star will "soon" be a Liverpool player](https://www.footballfancast.com/deal-close-liverpool-jeremie-frimpong-bid-set-to-be-accepted/ "Deal close: "Sensational" £34m star will "soon" be a Liverpool player")
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
There is also a sense that Slot is keen on improving his squad in more attacking areas this summer, having opened talks to sign Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki, who could be available for just £19m.
Cherki's low asking price could make signing the Frenchman an attractive proposition, but Liverpool also have their eye on a much more expensive target, namely Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, with a deal for the German likely to amount to around £126m.
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz reacts after the match
Taking to X, Jacobs has now provided a new update on the Reds' Wirtz pursuit, stating "contact" has been made over a deal for the attacking midfielder, who they are "interested" in bringing to Anfield.
However, the reporter also clarifies that an in-person meeting hasn't taken place, contrary to other reports, with Slot's side of the belief the 22-year-old will either join Bayern Munich or stay at Leverkusen, rather than moving to the Premier League.
Wirtz could be "unbelievable" signing for Liverpool
Leverkusen have been on a real journey under Xabi Alonso, winning the Bundesliga title without losing a game in the 2023-24 campaign, while once again qualifying for the Champions League this season.
The 22-year-old has played an integral role in their success, picking up 57 goals and 65 assists in 196 first-team appearances for the German side, bagging six goals in nine Champions League outings this season.
As such, the Germany international places extremely highly on some key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.
Statistic Average per 90
Successful take-ons 2.88 (96th percentile)
Assists 0.37 (92nd percentile)
Progressive passes 6.91 (94th percentile)
Wirtz is exhibiting world-class potential, but it appears as though a move to Bayern is the more likely scenario, and Liverpool would have to break the bank to get a deal done, given his £126m price tag.