Liverpool will be looking to strengthen their squad this summer with Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz their big-money signing under Arne Slot
Florian Wirtz of Germany controls the ball during the UEFA Nations League 2025 third place match
Liverpool will be looking to wrap up a deal for Germany and Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz
(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool face an intriguing summer with the reigning Premier League champions looking to strengthen an already strong squad.
The Reds' biggest deal is set to be Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz with their latest offer worth an overall £113million. However it is understood that the Bundesliga side are holding out for more as transfer negotiations continue.
It is likely that Liverpool will now have to break not only their own transfer record but the British record too to land the German playmaker. Leverkusen are therefore braced for an improved offer from the Reds. Below are some of the latest Liverpool headlines as the summer transfer window hots up...
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Deal praised
Liverpool have been praised by former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson for their negotiations with Real Madrid over Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“I got that one completely wrong," he told Football Insider. “I thought that the Liverpool wage saving would be enough to encourage Liverpool to do a deal with Real because they had no benefit from having him on the books for June, and they would have had to have paid him.
“But somehow, not only do they save the wages, but they get £10million. I guess the way to look at it is to say the manager really wants the player as soon as possible, and if they get it right at the Club World Cup, they can do £125million of prize money.
“There is no way that I would have done that deal if I were Real Madrid. I’d let the player have the summer off, let him relax and get fit for the new season. Instead, you’ve got the internationals, then he goes off to the Club World Cup. He’s probably not played very much since April, so he’s probably in better shape than a lot of players. But the players that are playing in that Club World Cup have had no rest whatsoever.
“We know Real Madrid are going to go to at least the quarter-finals and probably the semi-finals at least, so they’re not going to be finished with that tournament until July 10 or something like that at a minimum. The season starts a month later. It’s absolute madness. So, if I were them, I’d have taken that opportunity. Instead, they doubled down on it and they want to get him on board very early.
“I’m very surprised, but it’s a brilliant deal for Liverpool. It’s a brilliant negotiation, brilliant from them holding their nerve, and they have been well rewarded for it.”
Gakpo comment
Reds forward Cody Gakpo has claimed he is unaware of any interest from Bayern Munich. Liverpool's pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz has sparked rumours that their other forwards could be sold to help fund the move.
“I haven’t heard anything about it myself. I’m closing myself off from it,” he said ahead of the Netherlands’ 2-0 victory over Finland in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. “Maybe my agent has heard something, but I’m focusing on myself.”
Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven for £40m in January 2023 and still has three years left on his contract. He has 41 goals and 17 assists in 128 games for the club so far and, at 26, looks set to be a key player going forward.