Wirtz's team-mate delivers message to delight Liverpool fans amid transfer talks

Florian Wirtz's Germany colleague Niclas Fullkrug has given the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker huge plaudits as Liverpool continue to push for a move in the summer transfer window

Florian Wirtz's Germany team-mate Niclas Fullkrug claims the playmaker would "definitely take Liverpool forward" - but admitted he had no update on his future despite being in camp with the Bayer Leverkusen star.

The German star has continued to blossom at the BayArena and is now heavily linked with a switch to the Reds, who have leapt ahead of Bayern Munich and Manchester City in the race for his signature.

An offer of £109million has been knocked back by the Bundesliga outfit, who want closer to their £125m valuation. Arne Slot is ready to attack the transfer market after barely acting in his first summer before landing the Premier League title at the first attempt.

Fullkrug has played on the international stage with Wirtz, allowing him to see his talent close up, and the West Ham striker believes he would be a huge addition to the Liverpool squad, but had no updates on his situation.

He said: "First of all, nothing official has been decided yet and I do not know whether that will be the case. That means you won’t get any new information from me! But of course I talk to Flo a lot and we’ve talked about it a bit."

The Hammers frontman then added: "Basically, Flo is simply an outstanding player with special qualities. I think it doesn’t matter what league, as soon as you give Flo a metre too much it becomes dangerous and he can use these spaces very well.

"He is also very versatile and he can use these spaces with a dribble, with a pass or even with a finish because he is so flexible. No matter where he goes I think he would work very well and even if it was Liverpool then I am sure that he would definitely bring this team forward."

Liverpool look set to break the British transfer record if they do want to land Wirtz. His fee would likely have to eclipse Chelsea, who paid around £115m for Moises Caicedo in 2023. The Reds' biggest transfer in their history was their capture of Darwin Nunez back in 2022, which could yet reach £84m.

There is a willingness from Leverkusen to sell Wirtz early in the window and they would be open to Liverpool including two players in any future offer. The duo being discussed are attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott and also centre-back Jarell Quansah.