Liverpool are closing in on a record shattering deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz
Liverpool are closing in on a record shattering deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz
(Image: Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
Liverpool appear to be edging ever closer to securing a potential record-breaking deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
It has now been two weeks since the player’s decision to join Anfield became public, and the Reds are actively working to finalise terms with their Bundesliga counterparts. Once completed, the transfer could set a new Premier League record, surpassing the £115 million Chelsea paid for midfielder Moises Caicedo in the summer of 2023.
While no deal has been officially struck yet, reports from both England and Germany continue to indicate that everything is progressing smoothly, and the 22-year-old will be a Liverpool player next season. With Wirtz still away on international duty, it’s believed the move is more likely to be completed next week rather than this weekend.
Here, the ECHO has rounded up all the latest news and rumours surrounding Liverpool’s pursuit of Wirtz.
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Liverpool table fresh bid
The big news that broke on Friday night is that Liverpool have submitted an improved offer to Leverkusen for Wirtz. The ECHO's Ian Doyle reports that the bid compromises of £100m up front and a further £13m in achievable add-ons.
Talks continue between the two clubs, but it is still short of Leverkusen's €150m asking price. A fee the likes of The Times and The Athletic claim Liverpool are unwilling to meet as things stand.
News of Liverpool's bid were pre-empted by reports in Germany earlier in the evening that progress has indeed been made between the two clubs and decisive steps have been taken towards getting a deal over the line. The latest update from German outlet KICKER claims significant progress has been made in negotiations.
Earlier reports suggested Liverpool and Leverkusen were around €20 million apart in their valuations after the Reds’ second bid, reportedly worth £109 million, was rejected. However, they now appear close to reaching a final agreement with a third bid now submitted, and there are no lingering doubts over whether the deal will proceed.
Nations League question
Another German outlet, BILD, also reported on Friday that the deal is close to completion. However, they raised the question of whether Wirtz will be risked in Sunday’s Nations League third-place play-off against France.
Germany suffered defeat to Portugal midweek despite a second-half goal from Wirtz, meaning they won’t contest the final in Munich this weekend. Instead, they will face France in a relatively low-stakes match to decide third place.
BILD cautions that any injury to Wirtz could jeopardise the deal, giving Liverpool the option to lower the transfer fee or even withdraw from negotiations altogether. A similar scenario occurred in 2019 when Leroy Sane was close to a €150 million move from Manchester City to Bayern Munich but tore his cruciate ligament against Liverpool. He eventually moved to Bayern a year later for €100 million less than the original fee.
The report adds that if Wirtz comes through Sunday’s game unscathed, the transfer could be finalised early next week, meaning Julian Nagelsmann and the player face an important selection decision this weekend.
Rivals make intervention
Some reports this week suggest that Wirtz’s proposed move to Anfield could spark a legal dispute between Leverkusen and the player’s former club, FC Koln. Wirtz made the controversial switch between the two rivals as a youngster in 2020 for a nominal fee of £252k.
The Rhineland clubs - including Leverkusen, Koln, and Borussia Monchengladbach - reportedly have a gentleman’s agreement dating back to 2001 not to poach each other’s young talents. Leverkusen seemingly breached this agreement when they signed Wirtz five years ago.
Now, the record-breaking transfer to Liverpool could trigger a legal battle, with FC Koln reportedly seeking compensation for their role in Wirtz’s development.
“Of course, we are looking into it. We know what we are entitled to and will fight for it,” Koln president Werner Wolf told Radio Cologne. “We’re watching this closely. We’ll benefit from it. The higher the sum Liverpool are willing to pay, the better for us.”