Liverpool are keen on Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and their efforts are ongoing to secure his services this summer.
Two days ago, Bild stated Liverpool owners FSG have given CEO, Michael Edwards, their approval to go ahead with a €150m bid to sign Wirtz. This was after the German club turned down the Reds’ €130m offer.
On Wednesday, the attacking midfielder’s club teammate, Aleix García, encouraged him to pick Liverpool over league rivals, Bayern Munich.
German football association (DFB) sporting director Rudi Völler has been speaking to DAZN about the Liverpool target and Sport1 relay his comments.
Völler spent more than two decades at Bayer Leverkusen in different roles, including sporting director between 2005 and 2018.
He was at the Bundesliga club when they signed the Germany international from 1. FC Köln for their academy in 2020, and then left Bayer Leverkusen to take the sporting director role with the national team in February 2023.
Völler says the 22-year-old wants to join the English champions and expects negotiations between the two clubs to drag on.
“It’s no secret that he’d like to go to Liverpool. I know the clubs are negotiating with each other,” he said.
“[But with] transfers like this [it’s] often the case that it takes a while until an agreement is finally reached. Of course, in the end, you have the feeling it will go through.”
Wirtz managed 16 goals and 15 assists from 45 games this season and Völler is pleased with his rise at Bayer Leverkusen.
“Florian Wirtz has proven that he’s a very, very valuable player. Not just for Leverkusen, but also for the national team. That’s why he costs a few euros more,” Völler explained.