Liverpool reportedly want specific assurances from Florian Wirtz if they are to firm up their interest in the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker this summer after Manchester City cooled their pursuit.
When it was announced that Kevin De Bruyne would be leaving the Etihad at the end of his contract this summer, Wirtz was inevitably heralded as the Belgian's natural successor.
Pep Guardiola and co are said to have explored a deal for the Germany international, but it has now been reported that they have taken a step back due to Leverkusen's nine-figure valuation of the player.
While City are still admirers of Wirtz, they are not actively pursuing a move for the 22-year-old and are instead thought to be focusing their attentions on Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Citizens' decision could open the door for rivals Liverpool to make a move for the Xabi Alonso protege, and Sky Sports News claims that the Reds are indeed interested in bringing him to the Premier League.
Liverpool 'want guarantees' from Wirtz before transfer
© Imago
However, Liverpool supposedly want guarantees from the playmaker that he does want to leave the Bundesliga before they step up their interest in any potential deal.
As things stand, Anfield does not appear to be the most likely destination for Wirtz, who is either expected to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich or continue with Leverkusen for another year.
Bayern are believed to have agreed personal terms with the 2003-born starlet, but both they and Liverpool would need to make Wirtz their most expensive signing of all time if they are to prise him away from the BayArena.
Leverkusen are said to have slapped a €150m (£126.3m) price tag on the head of the German, but Liverpool have not yet thrown in the towel and will have significant funds to spend this summer.
Wirtz has been directly involved in 31 goals from 45 matches for Leverkusen across all tournaments this season - 16 of his own and 15 assists - and his contract runs for another two years.
Where could Wirtz fit in at Liverpool?
© Imago
The prospective club-record signing of Wirtz may appear peculiar at a first glance given he operates at his best in the number 10 role, which Dominik Szoboszlai has made his own since joining Liverpool.
The Hungary international is highly unlikely to cede his place in Arne Slot's system, but Wirtz would also be an intriguing option off the left, where he would compete with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz for starts.
Alternatively, Slot could repeat a trick from Liverpool's triumph away to Manchester City earlier this season, where Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones started as two number 10s with Diaz and Mohamed Salah either side of them.
Signing Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and potentially Milos Kerkez too would leave Liverpool with little money left over for a big-money striker, so a Wirtz-Szoboszlai combo in a 4-4-2 shape could be an intriguing option for 2025-26.
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Ben Knapton
