IMPROVED BID WORTH £113M TABLED FOR WIRTZ

LIVERPOOL have submitted an improved club-record bid to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz. The Reds’ latest offer is worth an overall £113m, but still falls short of the Bundesliga outfit’s full asking price.

- By THEO SQUIRES & IAN DOYLE

As reported elsewhere on Friday night, Liverpool have offered an initial £100m for the 22-year-old, with the additional £13m coming in performance-related add-ons. Leverkusen have been holding out for £126m.

The ECHO understands that talks are ongoing between the two clubs as they look to agree a deal for the 22-year-old, who has already confirmed his desire to move to Anfield. The Reds are currently unwilling to meet Leverkusen’s full asking price as negotiations continue.

Bayern Munich had initially been the favourites for Wirtz’s signature, only to be left disappointed once Liverpool stepped up their interest. Man City had also previously ended their interest in the German.

‘The Reds’ offer would smash the club’s transfer record, having previously forked out £75m when signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018 and committed to pay £85m including add-ons when bringing in Darwin Nunez from Benfica in the summer of 2022.

It is also the highest fee Liverpool have ever offered for a player, eclipsing their £111m for Moises Caicedo in the summer of 2023, in what is a real signal of intent from the Premier League champions.

‘The Ecuador international would ultimately join Chelsea in a deal worth up to a British record £115m instead, with the Reds’ latest offer for Wirtz falling just short of such a figure.

With discussions ongoing, it remains to be seen if Leverkusen will demand Liverpool break that fee to land Wirtz and hold out for a total closer to their original asking price or if a compromise will be reached.