Liverpool star who left Klopp 'regretful' now poised for role in Wirtz deal

Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, with the Reds prepared to make the Germany international the most expensive player in their history

Before he left Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp shared a lingering regret – one that could now significantly influence the club's efforts to sign Florian Wirtz. The Reds are deep in advanced talks with Bayer Leverkusen over the gifted midfielder and are ready to break their transfer record to bring him to Anfield.

They recently tabled a bid worth £109m plus add-ons, though reports indicate Leverkusen are standing firm on a valuation closer to £120m. To close the gap, a part-exchange proposal is being considered, with Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah floated as possible makeweights.

Under new head coach Arne Slot, both youngsters have seen limited game time, making just six Premier League starts between them during the 2024/25 campaign. Elliott, in particular, was named in the starting XI in just six of the Reds' 56 fixtures in all competitions – a steep drop from his 27 starts under Klopp the season prior.

Still, Klopp admitted he "regretted" not giving Elliott more starting opportunities. Speaking before his penultimate match in charge in May last year, the German said: "It's not that I go back and think, 'OK, what did we all do wrong?' But if I regret one thing a little bit, it's that Harvey didn't play often enough maybe.

"Because in a very important, intense period – January, a lot of injuries – he played really good. He was probably our best player – right wing, right midfield, all these kinds of things. Everybody came back and he had minutes here, minutes there and he didn't start anymore – [but he] came on, [and made a] big impact."

Leverkusen, now managed by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, are admirers of both Elliott and Quansah, and are open to a cash-plus-player arrangement. As Wirtz – the club's creative engine – edges closer to the exit, using an attacking midfielder like Elliott in the deal would make a lot of sense.

That said, the 22-year-old isn't the only name on Leverkusen's shortlist. James McAtee of Manchester City, Andy Diouf from RC Lens, and Giannis Konstantelias of PAOK are all under consideration.

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga side are bracing for the free transfer exit of key defender Jonathan Tah, who is poised to join Bayern Munich. That departure raises the appeal of including Quansah, a view reinforced by Klopp's past compliments.

In January 2024, the manager was effusive in his praise: "I liked Quansah from the moment I saw him [as a 16-year-old]," he said. "I know he's a good footballer, which is... not rare... but quite special [for a centre back] – how calm he is on the ball.

"I didn't expect him to be that quick, that strong... but when we saw him it was clear. He was going to be our solution. Now he's a proper part of the squad."

Quansah has struggled to make the same impression under Slot, and with Liverpool actively scouting central defenders – including Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace, Jorrel Hato from Ajax, and Castle Lukeba of RB Leipzig – the academy graduate may find himself sliding down the defensive pecking order if he stays.

Regardless of whether any player is packaged into the agreement, Liverpool are expected to complete the signing of Wirtz in the coming weeks. The German international is poised to become the most expensive signing in the club's history, eclipsing the £85m paid for Darwin Nunez.

Owners Fenway Sports Group are also prepared to break Premier League records to get the deal done – with Wirtz potentially surpassing the £111m that Chelsea spent on Moises Caicedo in 2023.