Inside Wirtz transfer and how Liverpool blew away rivals to seal £116m deal

Liverpool have agreed a potential British transfer record deal which will see Florian Wirtz move to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen

When Florian Wirtz hopped on a private jet and landed in Blackpool back in May the assumption was that he was going to meet Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.

What wasn’t known at the time was that Liverpool were serious contenders for his signature. So were Bayern Munich, of course. But, at that point, those outside of Anfield thought the Reds were just fringe hopefuls in the battle for one of the most exciting young players in world football.

All three clubs were holding talks in different ways with the player and his family which includes his father and agent, Hans-Joachim Wirtz. Decisions were being made and the trip was a reconnaissance one rather than for meetings.

Wirtz and his close relatives were scoping out houses in the North-West and used the private terminal in the seaside town to touch down rather than the bigger airports in the region to try and go unnoticed. Liverpool would know then that they were really in with a chance of landing one of the most coveted signings in world football.

They still had to battle with Premier League rivals City as well as Bayern, and the Reds believed for a long time that the Germany attacking midfielder would be heading to the Bundesliga champions. It is a route well travelled - the player of the Bundesliga who doesn’t already play for Bayern being poached by Germany’s grandest giant.

Bayer Leverkusen had some small hope of retaining the 22-year-old and tying him down to a new contract, with a lower release clause to appease him. But with their squad starting to be picked apart, including by Liverpool, who signed Wirtz’s friend and team-mate Jeremie Frimpong, it seemed now was the right time to go.

Bayern offered home comforts in a country where he is already a superstar. But Vincent Kompany couldn’t convince him where he fitted best into his squad while, having led Leverkusen to the title in 2023-24 campaign, winning it again at the Allianz Arena would become routine.

That’s why the Premier League was his preferred destination. Wirtz, showing his ambition, wants to be challenged.

He shone brightly in Germany with 30 goal contributions last season after Leverkusen’s unbeaten title campaign the year before. The 31-times capped international wanted to take his talents abroad.

City were the first to drop out of the race, though. That’s the word from those close to the Etihad Stadium. Bayer had set a £127m asking price - Liverpool negotiated this down to £116m - and City believed that, along with wages, could cost in the region of £250m. It’s not known if that salary figure is correct, though.

They did feel that Wirtz could fill the void of Kevin De Bruyne but there are also claims in Germany that the player was also not fully sold on the project at City with Guardiola only committed until 2027. Those arguments will go on but City have gone on to spend the money more spread out on Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Rayan Cherki.

The latter was also a target for Liverpool and was sounded out as Liverpool lined up alternatives. They were still in the belief that Bayern were a nose in front in the race up until May 23. Wirtz made his mind up and told the German champions and his club that he wanted to move to Merseyside.

Liverpool had plenty of champagne on ice ahead of the Premier League trophy lift that weekend. They would have been forgiven for popping a few bottles of the bubbly early given the coup.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes sold a vision to Wirtz not only about where he would fit in the team but also in where he can take this team, which has just won the Premier League title but is hungry for more next season and beyond.

That, along with the facilities on offer - Wirtz trained at the AXA following Leverkusen's defeat by the Reds last season in the Champions League - convinced the German that Merseyside was the place for him. There still needed to be a fee agreed with Leverkusen but, with the players’ intention clear, it was more a formality in striking a deal to suit all parties.

Two bids were short of what Leverkusen wanted but the second - of £114m - submitted last week was not far off. A few more days at the negotiation table and Liverpool got their man.

A potential British record fee of £116m but a deal that they believe will be worth every penny should Wirtz light up the Premier League.