- 2 hours ago
Liverpool target first €100m signing
Robin Bairner
- 21 Sept 2024 20:29 BST
- 2 min read
Liverpool are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz in a deal that would likely shatter the club’s transfer record.
Wirtz is coming to a major crossroads in his career over the course of the next year, despite the Germany star being out of contract with Xabi Alonso’s side in 2027.
Leverkusen were able to fight off interest in the 21-year-old during the summer, but with the offensive star still posting impressive numbers this season, big clubs will be circling in a year.
READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals
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Florian Wirtz
AM (C)
Florian Wirtz
AM (C)
Bayer 04
Real Madrid are widely thought to be leading the race for Wirtz, although Carlo Ancelotti has been told he may need to adapt the player’s position to fit in at the Bernabeu, but Liverpool are in the hunt too.
Christian Falk explained for the Daily Briefing: “Florian Wirtz made it very clear that he wants to make the next step in 2025. He has a contract now until 2027, so Leverkusen want a big fee for his services - €150m. That’s a lot and obviously not every club can afford to pay this.
“There’s a big dream for Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to play together at Bayern. I don’t think Real Madrid would be able to buy both players, whilst Bayern can only sign one. But, of course, he also fits other clubs like Manchester City. Liverpool are also interested.”
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Reds to shatter Darwin fee?
Liverpool would have to obliterate their transfer record to get anywhere close to what Leverkusen are asking for Wirtz.
The Reds’ record deal stands at the €85 million they have so far spent to bring Darwin Nunez from Benfica in 2022, which edged Virgil van Dijk into second place.
Wirtz, meanwhile, has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €83.7m, with the top end of this estimate putting him at €105m. His value, meanwhile, has been steadily rising since he came back from a serious knee injury nearly two years ago.
The Anfield club have been infamously reticent to agree to such monster transfers in the past but if Arne Slot’s side are to seriously challenge Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the league, a player the calibre of Wirtz may be just what they need.
