The Reds set a transfer record For Florian Wirtz

 

Liverpool have taken concrete steps to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s young midfield star Florian Wirtz, reportedly submitting a formal offer to secure the 22-year-old playmaker for the coming season. According to trusted reports, Reds chiefs have already agreed personal terms with Wirtz and lodged a first bid in excess of €100 million (around £84m) to Bayer Leverkusen. This massive bid – a €100m package plus add-ons – marks Liverpool’s intent to land Wirtz quickly, and if accepted would make him the club’s most expensive signing ever. The offer is understood to be significantly higher than previous German midfield targets, and far above the £85m paid for Darwin Núñez in 2022. With Liverpool just crowned Premier League champions, this early move underscores the club’s ambition to build on their success by adding a top-tier creative talent.

Germany’s Young Playmaker Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz is widely regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young midfield talents. A product of Leverkusen’s youth academy, the 22-year-old German international has been a first-team regular since his late teens, helping Leverkusen to strong league and Champions League finishes in recent years. In fact, Bayern Munich were reported to value him closer to €150m (about £126m) – a fee Leverkusen president Simon Rolfes publicly hinted might not be the final word. Wirtz has made over 30 appearances in the Bundesliga this season, contributing goals and assists. He also featured prominently for Germany at Euro 2024, scoring and creating goals on the international stage. With his youth (born May 2003) and proven track record, Wirtz is seen as a long-term successor to Liverpool’s creative midfielders, bringing pace, vision and goal-scoring instinct to Anfield.

Transfer Details: Official Bid and Negotiations

Reports indicate Liverpool officially opened talks with Leverkusen on Friday and quickly escalated their bid. Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Liverpool’s first official offer is in excess of €100m including add-ons. According to journalist Jack Lusby’s coverage, Liverpool have “initial talks” in place with Leverkusen and the player, and have “taken the next step” by submitting this formal bid. The deal structure reportedly includes a base fee of €100m with performance-related bonuses, mirroring a strategy Liverpool used when signing other star players. Leverkusen had previously set a lofty price-tag (reports suggested €130–150m), but insiders believe they would consider a lower upfront fee with realistic add-ons. Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed that Liverpool’s interest is “concrete,” though he diplomatically added that Wirtz “is our player” and no deal is finalized yet. Manager Arne Slot, who has been in contact with Leverkusen and the player, appears to be leading Liverpool’s side of the discussions, aiming to conclude an agreement quickly.
Liverpool’s bid comes with high confidence the deal can be done. German media reports note that Wirtz has privately signaled a preference for Liverpool over other suitors. In fact, Bild newspaper claims Wirtz has already turned down offers from elite clubs including Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid because Liverpool promised him a guaranteed starring role. This echoes comments that Liverpool will “build their setup” around Wirtz, giving him a pivotal creative role – a selling point reportedly not offered by all rivals. David Ornstein of The Athletic even remarked that Liverpool are in an “increasingly strong position, because he wants to join them, and they’re ready to pay significant finance.” In short, the personal side of the transfer is progressing well: Liverpool have agreed terms with the player, and only the clubs’ negotiations on fee remain.

Financial Stakes and Club Motivation

The financial dimension of this deal is monumental for Liverpool. A completed transfer would shatter the club’s previous fee records and almost certainly break the British transfer record for a single player. Indeed, Wirtz would eclipse Darwin Núñez as the Reds’ priciest acquisition. Leverkusen’s initial demands suggest they know Wirtz is one of the hottest properties in Europe, and Liverpool appear ready to meet those demands at least partway, given their reported bid size.
Liverpool’s motivation for this investment is clear. Fresh from winning the Premier League title, they are looking to refresh and strengthen their squad for sustained success. Wirtz’s arrival would address Liverpool’s need for a young creative hub in midfield, someone who can both assist the established forwards and chip in with goals. The club publicly cited the motivation of adding a “superstar in the making” to their ranks – as commentators put it, securing Wirtz “would really, really excite” supporters, given his dazzling displays this season. In summary, Liverpool view Wirtz not only as a star acquisition for 2025-26 but as a building block for the next era.
Even amid the high stakes, Liverpool have been methodical. They reportedly tied up a deal for Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong (arriving on Merseyside on May 28 to complete his transfer) as their first signing. With Frimpong nearly wrapped up, Leverkusen’s sporting director Rolfes and Liverpool’s Michael Edwards have focused on Wirtz. One report highlighted that “with Jeremie Frimpong all but signed and both Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez expected to follow, it stands to be a busy start to the transfer window for Liverpool.” In other words, the club is plotting a significant overhaul, and Wirtz is front and center of that plan.

Reactions and Analysis

Reactions from managers and media underline the deal’s significance. At a press conference unveiling Ajax’s new coach, Leverkusen’s Simon Rolfes was asked about Wirtz; he acknowledged that Liverpool’s interest is real but tempered expectations by stressing that no formal agreement has been reached yet. Meanwhile, incoming Bayern Munich manager (ex-Leverkusen coach) Erik ten Hag diplomatically noted he will manage whoever is at the club on September 1, implying he wouldn’t block any high-profile departure. On the media side, Fabrizio Romano cited Liverpool’s willingness to “get the deal done very soon” and resume talks immediately after the season’s end, suggesting urgency from Anfield.
Players and pundits have also weighed in positively. ESPN’s Rob Palmer, familiar with German football, hailed Wirtz as “nothing short of sensational” this season and a “superstar in the making.” Liverpool legend and pundit Ian Darke hasn’t publicly commented yet, but fans and journalists are widely acknowledging that landing Wirtz would be a statement signing. Even Leverkusen’s sporting director Markus Krösche praised Wirtz to SPORT1, calling him “one of the most interesting players on the European market.” Overall, the narrative is that Wirtz’s preference for Liverpool and the club’s financial firepower have created confidence that this transfer will happen if both sides compromise on price.