Florian Wirtz is likely to arrive at Liverpool as the club's third highest-paid player, behind legends Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds are continuing to work on a deal to sign the Germany international, after it emerged last month that he had opted to join the Anfield club ahead of Bayern Munich.
Liverpool will have to smash its transfer record to get a deal over the line, with reports suggesting it could take a bid of €150 million ($171 million) to pry the 22-year-old away from Leverkusen.
That kind of fee would not only make him Liverpool's record signing — it would also make him one of the most expensive signings in soccer history: only Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have moved clubs for bigger transfer fees in the past.
And his status as one of the most valuable players is expected to be reflected in a monster salary, with German outlet Bild saying that Wirtz's contract is set to be worth between $23 million and $25 million gross per season. Salah and Van Dijk are both believed to earn well in excess of $25 million per year before tax.
Interestingly, it is claimed that Wirtz could have earned an even higher salary at Bayern. Earlier this year, the player told Sports Illustrated that he is not motivated by money.
"I don't even care about how much money I have in my account or what I might earn in the future," he said. "Of course, you should make sure you get a good contract. But for me, the sporting perspective is much more important than the money.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are the highest-paid players at Liverpool
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are the highest-paid players at Liverpool (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"And I think my parents would be angry if I were too fixated on money. After I moved to Leverkusen at 16, my parents managed my salary and sent me 150 euros (£126) a month. That shaped me. It was important to my parents that I didn't do anything stupid with my salary."
Meanwhile, Wirtz has dismissed a report that claimed he wants to wear the No.10 jersey for Liverpool. It was reported by Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg on Monday that Wirtz was eyeing up Alexis Mac Allister's number.
Wirtz did not take kindly to the claim, instantly rejecting it in an Instagram post. "Who says I want the 10? I respect players. Don't believe everything that's written," Wirtz wrote, alongside a clown emoji.