The latest Liverpool FC transfer news as they continue to pursue a deal for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.
Florian Wirtz in action for Germany.
Liverpool have now put in a £113m bid for Germany star Florian Wirtz.
(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann admits that he has received no requests from clubs to rest players, such as Florian Wirtz, for Sunday's UEFA Nations League third-place play-off - but stopped short of revealing changes he plans to make. Liverpool continue to push for a club-record agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for the 22-year-old playmaker's transfer.
Wirtz played and scored for Germany in Wednesday's semi-final defeat against Portugal, in Munich, meanwhile Liverpool were lining up their latest bid of £113m. The result means his country are to play France in a third-place play-off - one that has no bigger incentive for the winner or repercussion for the defeated.
The midfielder, 22, is an unquestioned star of the German national side, even at such a young age, though fears on Merseyside and in Leverkusen would be that he picks up an unnecessary injury - and while hundreds of millions are on the line for his high-profile signature.
READ MORE: Florian Wirtz has already sent a message to Liverpool over his role for Arne Slot
"I didn't get a message [from any club] about what I should take into consideration [regarding tomorrow's line-up] so far," manager Nagelsmann confirmed at his pre-match press conference.
A lack of requests would appear to stand for Wirtz, or any of his teammates who are due to feature for their clubs at the new FIFA Club World Cup, which begins next weekend.
Nagelsmann added: "There will be a few changes. I won't reveal it in detail.
"We still didn't decide everything at 100 per cent.
"The system we used against Portugal was similar to against Italy. It had to do with the opponent. When you want to defend man against man, then you have to change the formation.
"We'll try to win the ball higher than we did on Wednesday, so we'll adapt the system to the opponent."
Wirtz himself had hinted he still has a part to play in the match against France, despite there being nothing riding on it. So bar any late intervention, Liverpool and Leverkusen alike will be watching on in hope that the player they are currently negotiations over comes away unscathed.
Of course, one player he could directly come up against is Reds defender Ibrahima Konate - who started France's own semi-final defeat to Spain on Thursday.
Also the French squad and hopeful of making his full debut having scored and assisted from the subs bench that night is Rayan Cherki. The 21-year-old is a target for rivals Manchester City, but also held a meeting with Arne Slot before the green light was received from Leverkusen to chase down Wirtz's signature.