Liverpool have supposedly started talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz, whom they would have to make their most expensive acquisition of all time.
The Reds are believed to have originally been one of three teams pushing to sign the Germany international in the summer window, along with Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
Pep Guardiola reportedly viewed Wirtz as the natural heir to the Kevin De Bruyne throne, but the Citizens soon pulled out of the race due to the extortionate cost of the deal.
Leverkusen are believed to value Wirtz at a staggering £126m, which had not completely put Bayern off, but the player himself is thought to favour a switch to Anfield rather than the Allianz Arena.
Having received assurances that the 22-year-old wants to join the club, The Athletic claims that Liverpool have now entered official negotiations with Leverkusen over a transfer fee.
Liverpool 'in talks' to make Wirtz record signing
© Imago
The two clubs have already shaken hands on a deal to take Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, and the lines of communication have remained open following their discussions involving the Dutchman.
Whether Liverpool will bow to Leverkusen's £126m demands remains to be seen, but the Premier League champions will have to make him their record signing and the most expensive German footballer in history.
The Reds' current record acquisition is misfiring striker Darwin Nunez, whom they agreed to shell out up to £85m on in 2022, but Wirtz would represent their first-ever nine-figure incoming.
A separate update from Fabrizio Romano claims that Liverpool are keen to wrap up an agreement as soon as possible, and having now made a formal approach, they do not want to be dragged into a 'long saga' regarding Wirtz's future.
The German playmaker became a Bundesliga Invincible last season and has been directly involved in 31 goals in 45 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, 16 of his own and 15 assists.
Wirtz boasts a total of 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 matches for Die Werkself since leaving the Koln youth academy, and his contract with Leverkusen runs for another two seasons.
Where could Wirtz fit in at Liverpool?
© Imago
A dynamic and nifty creator and goalscorer, Wirtz's best work comes as a number 10 just off the striker, although that slot is currently occupied by Dominik Szoboszlai at Liverpool.
The Hungarian workhorse is too fundamental to Arne Slot's system to drop, so Wirtz could instead play off the left-hand side, especially if an agreement is reached to sell Barcelona-linked Luis Diaz.
Alternatively, Slot could revert to the 4-4-2 shape with two number 10s that he utilised against Manchester City in February, as signing Wirtz, Frimpong and a left-back would leave little money left over for a striker.
Such a system could get the best out of Mohamed Salah at the expense of a target man, although with the Egyptian turning 33 this summer, the Reds will be wary of an age-related decline.
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Ben Knapton
