Man City star thinks Liverpool are not getting 'a world-class' player in Wirtz

Liverpool will need to spend a British record transfer fee to complete the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, who was once deemed 'not world-class' by a team-mate

Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan believes Florian Wirtz is not “world-class” yet, as the latter looks likely to join Liverpool in a record transfer fee. The Reds are ready to break the bank for Wirtz this summer, despite so far being unwilling to meet Bayer Leverkusen’s £126.4m (€150million) asking price.

Liverpool will pay £100m guaranteed to sign Wirtz as they look to close a deal, Mirror Football understands. But they remain locked in talks with the Bundesliga club over add-ons, the structure of the transfer and payments as no agreement is finalised.

Wirtz has not yet been given permission to travel for a medical yet and nothing has been arranged.

Liverpool submitted a third bid for the Germany international last week that consisted of £100m guaranteed with £14m in add-ons. And although it did not meet Leverkusen’s valuation, it was not rejected.

Talks have been ongoing between the clubs since it was lodged. Liverpool remain adamant in the talks that they will not pay the £126.5m asking price and are continuing discussions over the total amount of add-ons and how they would be structured.

Regardless of how close the deal is to completion, Liverpool will have to break the Premier League’s transfer record for the 22-year-old, who has his heart set on moving to Anfield after turning down approaches from Manchester City and Bayern Munich last month.

It is a mammoth sum, especially when considering that Wirtz’s Germany team-mate Gundogan stated he is still not a world-class player earlier this year. Gundogan looks set to miss out on being club team-mates with Wirtz too, who would have filled the shoes of Kevin De Bruyne following the Belgian legend’s Etihad departure.

Gundogan knows Wirtz’s game well, having played with both him and Bayern’s talented Jamal Musiala for Germany for a number of years. He has a high opinion of both, but thinks that if either want to be recognised as world-class, they will need to join a club capable of winning the Champions League – something Wirtz hopes to accomplish if he joins Liverpool.

"They're very close to world class. Maybe they are not yet there but they could be the best in the world in a short amount of time," Gundogan said earlier this year.

"I feel like it is just proving themselves a little bit more. They are very young. Jamal has done a bit more than Florian because he played a little more at that high level.

"When you want to be on top and admired as the world's best one day, it's necessary to win the Champions League and Jamal has already played a few years in the Champions League but hasn't won it yet.

"For Flo, it is the first season with Champions League with Leverkusen. To be there every single year, to try to get to the semis and final and win it at one point is unavoidable to be world class.

"Of course, they have the potential and the quality. I played with them for the last two years in the national team and both of them have everything and they prove it with their teams and the national team. They are both great guys and great characters so they will be there at one point."

Bayern had previously been favourites to sign Wirtz before Liverpool stole a march on the Bavarians, while City ended their long-running interest in the player for financial reasons.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have begun the summer transfer window in strong form with sporting director Richard Hughes already signing Jeremie Frimpong and young goalkeeper Armin Pecsi. Giorgi Mamardashvili will also join Arne Slot’s side, having agreed to move from Valencia last year.