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Liverpool have positioned themselves as serious contenders to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz in what could become the Premier League’s most expensive transfer.
The Reds have made significant moves to convince the 22-year-old German international to choose Anfield over staying in the Bundesliga, with reports suggesting a decision could come within the next ten days as the summer transfer window approaches.
The commitment was demonstrated by hosting Wirtz and his family for discussions in England, a meeting that was initially misreported as being with Manchester City.
During these talks, Liverpool presented their vision for building a new team around the German international.
In fact, interest from the Anfield club is believed to be so serious that with German BILD claimed that some of Liverpool’s chiefs have travelled to the USA to hold discussions around the signing of the player this week
The departure of Manchester City from the race has altered the competitive dynamics surrounding Wirtz’s potential transfer.
City’s withdrawal, citing the overall cost of any deal, has left Liverpool and Bayern Munich as the primary contenders.
But it seems Bayern Munich are now worried about Liverpool as they did not envisage the English champions spending €100 + on one player only:
“Bayern Munich still believe they have the Wirtz family’s word that he will join Bayern in 2025 or 2026,” the BILD reporter revealed on his website CF Bayern Insider.
“But now, there is a bit of fear inside the club around Liverpool, because they didn’t think that the Reds would commit to the transfer fee, as it’s a lot of money.”
“They had an idea a couple of summers ago for Moises Caicedo (with a £111m bid), but this didn’t work out.”
“We heard that Florian was already house hunting in Liverpool. The family is playing this transfer game quite openly; they’re telling Bayern what they’re doing with Liverpool, and they’re telling Liverpool what they’re doing with Bayern Munich.”
The Reds are said to be prepared to shatter their transfer record with a bid exceeding £126 million (€150 million) to meet Leverkusen’s possible valuation.
Wirtz’s creativity and goal-threat will go a long way in easing the pain of losing the vision Trent Alexander-Arnold provides down the right-flank.
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