Liverpool have begun talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a £120million transfer for Florian Wirtz, but manager Arne Slot has admitted such a deal might not be possible
Liverpool have entered negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen over the signing of Florian Wirtz – but Arne Slot has admitted they are not sure they can land him. The Reds have already agreed a deal with Leverkusen for right-back Jeremie Frimpong and have now made a bold move for Wirtz.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has 16 goals and 15 assists for Leverkusen this season and has been the stand-out player in the Bundesliga for two years. He had long been expected to move to Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, but the German giants now believe he will instead join Liverpool.
Wirtz has already visited the north west of England to scout out possible places to live and is understood to be keen on the Premier League. All of these things sound promising for Liverpool, but Slot’s comments this week should temper expectations, with lots of things yet to be decided.
Leverkusen value Wirtz at £120million – a figure that put off Manchester City – and it will take a record Premier League fee for Liverpool to sign him, eclipsing the £107m Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez two summers ago.
The Reds are flush with cash, having signed just one player last summer, but wanting to sign players and actually signing them are two very different things, as Slot explained this week.
“City will probably strengthen the squad again. If the rumours are correct, Arsenal is planning the same, so it would be stupid if we are not looking at trying to strengthen the squad as well,” he told BBC Sport.
“Again, I've said it many times, it's not that easy because this team has already won the league. So to find players that can strengthen us – that might not be that difficult – because there are certain players in the world where I think, 'if they would come, it would be nice'.
“But they're also playing at clubs where they don't want to leave. So there are not many that can strengthen us, but the few that are out there, we will try to get them. At this moment of time we're not sure if that's possible.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Florian Wirtz worth £120million? Comment below.
The fact Liverpool have already dealt with Leverkusen over a £29.5m transfer is promising, while Wirtz also seems keen to follow in the footsteps of his team-mate. He told Sports Illustrated last month that he was "definitely keen" to move on in the near future in order to "experience something new".
Liverpool have the pulling power that winning the Premier League brings and have proven to be effective operators in the transfer market in the past. However, there are no guarantees that Wirtz will leave Leverkusen, with his parents acting as his agents and keen to guard against any hasty moves.
Vieaeklmtz
1
We suffered with PSG because we lacked creative players and Salah was properly marked by that number three of PSG, Please get for us him
Notabckm
0
if we were going to spend 100+ millions on Moise Caicedo why not spend the same on Florian Wirtz.who in my opinion is a better footballer than Caicedo.
it was just a hoax, Liverpool can never
Widbiltz
1
if you come fine,if you don't it's okay by us. We are Liverpool FC
yooacklpsy
0
this deal will not happen 😔
skidoo77
0
If he stays healthy, he's definitely worth the 150 million euros. For me, he's the best after Lamin Yamal. However, if he gets injured again, it could spell disaster for the club.
BLIMAN1974
2
I still think it's not worth paying so much for 1 player
Haedekmosz
0
not anymore
Sciencepaid101
4
Honestly he’s a good player the doesn’t worth the price tag. I wish we could sign him if the price goes down.
nayaciknrs
4
if we were going to spend 100+ millions on Moise Caicedo why not spend the same on Florian Wirtz.who in my opinion is a better footballer than Caicedo.
Yehdelnsuz
2
I pray if we signed him, he shouldn't turnout be another Darwin Nunez for us.
Mrliberty
3
The lad is good but the price tag is too much
suaaekpu
0
Liverpool should do the business as usual, finding players at reasonable prices. Find them from all division, around the world and train them.
Dohaepsy
3
Liverpool needs a specialist number 10 since the departure of Coutinho we have survived because Mo has been a gift from the football gods not that we have special players. We need a creator in each game and then you will realize that Liverpool is a great team and will be able to dismantle every opponent. A specialist number 10 is a difference Manchester City used in the previous years to dominate the PL and once he became injured they faltered
teddklmpyz
2
just bring him if he was an English player everyone would have been saying he's worth it so please just sign him he's a class player
Williamslad
2
Liverpool should cancel this deal, they should spend wisely on key positions, b4 other miscellaneous. LB CF Then plan for VVD & MO. Bring in potential replacements now so as to lessen the impact much later.
diwacdlnu
0
If he stays healthy, he's definitely worth the 150 million euros. For me, he's the best after Lamin Yamal. However, if he gets injured again, it could spell disaster for the club.
diwacdlnu
0
If he stays healthy, he's definitely worth the 150 million euros. For me, he's the best after Lam Yamal. However, if he gets injured again, it could spell disaster for the club.
darkxiao
0
I get that a lot of fans think that 120 million is a bit much for a players but keep in mind that the transfer value has changed a lot after neymar world record fee, every clubs will take advantage of their star players.