Florian Wirtz looks set to become the second star to swap Bayer Leverkusen for Liverpool this summer with Arne Slot having played a huge role in negotiations for the German playmaker
Arne Slot’s ‘passion’ for Liverpool convinced Florian Wirtz to snub interest from Bayern Munich and pursue a move to Anfield. The German playmaker looks set to be at the heart of one of the biggest transfer sagas this summer.
The Bayer Leverkusen star has been strongly linked with the Premier League champions, while Liverpool have regularly been credited with an interest. The Reds look to have won the race for his services over recent weeks.
Manchester City have dropped their interest due to financial reasons and despite Bayern doing all they can to convince Wirtz to move to the Allianz Arena, Liverpool boss Slot appears to have got a deal over the line.
According to the Mail, the Dutchman left Wirtz ‘captivated’ as the pair held talks in England earlier this month. Slot’s passion for the club, his job and Liverpool supporters was a notable feature.
Slot also shared plans on how he saw the playmaker fitting into his team, while he also made a promise to make him a key part of his side should he put pen to paper on a switch to Liverpool.
Despite that, Wirtz still held further talks with Bayern on May 18. He flew into Munich and was picked up by limousine to hold discussions with Vincent Kompany in a private hotel room.
The pair went through a presentation on how the 22-year-old would fit into the side, with a further meeting then being held with prominent board members including Uli Hoeness, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Jan-Christian Dreesen, as well as sports directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund.
Kompany had already grown concerned that Wirtz appeared to favour Liverpool, fears that became true earlier this month. Club president Herbert Hainer said to Abendzeitung: "[Director of sport] Max Eberl has informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool. I can't say how things will continue with Leverkusen."
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All that remains now is for Liverpool to thrash out a deal with Leverkusen - anticipated to be worth around £125m. Should things go according to plan, Wirtz would become the second signing from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong is also expected to complete a move to Anfield having flown to the UK for a medical after Liverpool activated a release clause in his contract.