Reds went from fringes to being certs for Wirtz

WHEN Florian Wirtz hopped on a private jet and landed in Blackpool last month, the assumption was that he was going to meet Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.

- By Chris McKenna

What was not known was that Liverpool were serious contenders for his signature. So were Bayern Munich, of course.

All three clubs were holding talks in different ways with the player and his family, including his dad and agent Hans-Joachim Wirtz.

Wirtz and his close relatives were checking out houses in the North-West, and used the private terminal in the seaside town to touch down to try to go unnoticed.

Liverpool would know then that they were really in with a chance of landing one of the most coveted players in world football.

Bayer Leverkusen had hopes of retaining the 22-year-old and tying him down to a new deal, with a lower release clause.