When it comes to the summer transfer window, Liverpool are making some serious moves.
Their latest target? Florian Wirtz, the young German star lighting up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
But despite Liverpool’s eagerness to bring him to Anfield, it looks like their initial big-money offer has been turned down.
The Bidding War Over a Bundesliga Sensation
Wirtz has been on the radar of some of Europe’s biggest clubs for a while.
At just 22, he played a huge role in Leverkusen’s surprising Bundesliga success last season and has long been linked with Bayern Munich.
Even Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola eyeing him as the perfect man to eventually replace Kevin De Bruyne, have kept close tabs.
Recently, though, Liverpool have surged ahead as the frontrunner, with Wirtz reportedly agreeing to personal terms with the Reds. That’s a big deal considering the competition.
To show how serious they are, Liverpool offered a whopping £110 million — a club record bid.
But here’s the twist: Bayer Leverkusen aren’t budging.
Leverkusen Holding Out for More Cash
According to German reports, the Bundesliga club is holding firm, demanding closer to £127 million to part ways with their prized player.
While Liverpool’s bid was substantial, Leverkusen see Wirtz as worth every penny of their asking price.
That said, the door isn’t slammed shut. The report suggests that performance-related bonuses might bridge the gap between the offers, keeping the deal very much alive.
Leverkusen still expects to sell Wirtz this summer, but they want a deal that reflects his value.
Could Players Be Part of the Negotiation?
Rumors have also surfaced that Liverpool might sweeten the deal by including some players in the mix.
Names like Jarrell Quansah and Harvey Elliott have been floated as potential makeweights — that is, players offered to help lower the cash fee or provide Leverkusen with valuable assets in return.
New Faces and Changes at Bayer Leverkusen
Adding to the drama, Bayer Leverkusen recently appointed Erik ten Hag as their new head coach, fresh off his departure from Manchester United.
Ten Hag is already looking toward the Premier League, reshaping his squad and making moves that show his ambition.
One example: Leverkusen are close to signing Brentford’s goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Meanwhile, Brentford is expected to sign Liverpool’s former academy keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for around £18 million to fill the gap left by Flekken.
What This Means for Liverpool and the Transfer Market
Liverpool’s chase for Wirtz shows just how much the club is willing to invest to build on last season’s Premier League triumph.
But with Leverkusen holding out for a bigger price and potential player swaps in play, this transfer saga is far from over.
Fans and football watchers will be watching closely as the Reds try to land one of the Bundesliga’s brightest talents while navigating a tough negotiation with a club not keen on letting him go cheaply.