Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has compared Florian Wirtz to two former Reds players as he closes in on a record-breaking transfer move to Anfield.
It is understood that Liverpool has made a bid worth $135 million(£100 million) plus a further $18 million (£13 million) in add-ons. Negotiations are ongoing to reach a compromise, with Bayer Leverkusen initially demanding a package worth as much as$170 million (£126 million).
"It is nice that Liverpool is searching for players in the right area," Thompson said live on talkSPORT. "Sometimes clubs go and get players just because they are available, not because they fit into your structure.
"Andy Robertson will give Milos Kerkez a good fight for that left-back spot but Kerkez has got youth on his side. He is a lot quicker. And Wirtz is a proper player.
"He looks a bit of a cross between Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino. He has got that ability to get in between the lines and into great areas.
"It is actually one of those areas where Liverpool struggled last season against packed defenses. We did do eventually but I think Arne Slot is looking for that player who can break defenses and down and also score goals."
Liverpool transfer target Florian Wirtz
Liverpool transfer target Florian Wirtz could be heading to Anfield (Image: Sebastian El-Saqqa - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
It was reported over the weekend that Leverkusen had rejected the latest Liverpool bid for Wirtz. But talks are ongoing.
Elsewhere, there are other big decisions for Liverpool to make. An approach for Luis Diaz has been rejected, but there have been suggestions of an exit for both the Colombian and Darwin Nunez amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
"I think the club has always had a plan when it comes to spending big," Thompson said. "When we splashed the cash on Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, we had brought in the Coutinho money.
"I think some of these players — Diaz, Nunez, Diogo Jota — could move on. We have already started to recoup the money with Caoimhin Kelleher. The game evolves and players do want to move on. It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks."
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Harvey Elliott, who has spoken again this weekend about potentially needing to leave in search of more minutes, is another with a question mark hanging over him.
"This boy has been really good," Thompson said. "He is a great lad and a very good player but he has just not had the game time. When you look at Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, they are the go to men.
"Curtis Jones is ahead of Harvey too. He is too good of a player to get the minutes he did last season. I can completely understand his predicament as to some of the other players."
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz would be a sensational signing for Liverpool, as he should be for the price. The German is one of the best players in the world and would slot straight into the Reds' starting XI.