Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen.
Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen.(Image: Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Liverpool are continuing negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen as they prepare to make Florian Wirtz their club record signing. The Reds have been in talks with the Bundesliga side over the transfer of the 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who has made clear his desire to move to the Premier League champions.
However, claims on Tuesday evening that an agreement has been reached on a deal worth €150million (£126m) has been dismissed as premature by sources at both clubs.
Liverpool have tabled a number of formal bids, the third of which was submitted a week ago that consisted of £100m guaranteed with £14m in add-ons.
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That offer was not formally rejected by Leverkusen and has instead acted as a catalyst for talks to begin between the two clubs aimed at brokering a deal.
While there has been an agreement between the clubs over the guaranteed £100m fee for Wirtz, discussions remain ongoing over the structure of the deal and the value of the add-ons.
Talks continued on Tuesday with the player having set his heart on moving to Anfield having turned down approaches from Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen had initially demanded €150m for the Germany international but Liverpool have made clear they will not pay that asking price, but are maintaining dialogue with the Bundesliga side aimed at securing a deal that is in the best interests of both clubs.
Should an agreement be reached, only then will arrangements be put in place for Wirtz to undergone a medical and complete the formalities of his move.
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been leading the negotiations with Leverkusen counterpart Simon Rolfes, with the Reds hopeful Wirtz will follow Jeremie Frimpong and young goalkeeper Armin Pecsi as the third signing to bolster Arne Slot’s squad this summer, with Giorgi Mamardashvili also joining having agreed to move from Valencia last year.
By committing a guaranteed £100m, Liverpool are prepared to make Wirtz the most expensive player in their history, eclipsing the potential £85m they committed to spending on Darwin Nunez three years ago and the £75m guaranteed for Southampton to sign Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.
With the transfer window having temporarily closed, Liverpool would in any case have to wait until next Monday for the deal to be officially ratified.