Liverpool has made initial contact with the Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen regarding the Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz, who is in demand ahead of the summer window opening.
Arne Slot’s side is on the hunt for top-level recruits to go to the next level after winning the Premier League. And 22-year-old Wirtz, who has scored 16 goals and created another 15 in all competitions this season, would fit the bill perfectly.
Reports in Germany earlier in the day suggested that Wirtz has made it clear to Bayern Munich that he intends to move to the Premier League. It is not impossible that he stays with Bayer Leverkusen given a fee still needs to be agreed, but Liverpool is keen to do a deal.
Last week, it emerged that Liverpool was attempting to establish itself as a contender for Wirtz should he opt for a move to England. However, the expectation at the time was that staying in his homeland was more likely.
Manchester City then dropped out of the race. And now, Liverpool.com understands that the Reds have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen, though no bid has been lodged at this stage.
Wirtz is said to be valued at around $169 million (£126 million) by Bayer Leverkusen, however Liverpool could negotiate a smaller up front fee with realistic add-ons on top.
(Image: Pau Barrena/Getty Images)
It is thought that Leverkusen would be more willing to let Wirtz leave for a club abroad rather than selling to a direct rival. Bayern Munich finished one place and 13 points ahead of Xabi Alonso’s men this season.
Bayern Munich icon Stefan Effenberg took a swipe at Wirtz for his hesitation in deciding his future earlier this week. He labeled the Bayer Leverkusen star’s indecision as “undignified”.
“He has already won everything in Germany,” Effenberg wrote for t-online. “However, I think it’s a shame that there has still been no official statement from the Wirtz side about the direction in which things could go.
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“So all sides — clubs, fans, the public — remain in the dark for far too long. This is tiring and not appropriate to the situation.
“If Wirtz, who is supposed to have tended towards Bayern, now suddenly changes his mind again, that would also be a very bad sign. Because that would make it clear that he himself doesn’t really know what he actually wants.”
Liverpool is also thought to be looking at Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong, who has a release clause worth $39 million (£30 million) written into his contract.
The pair played at Anfield earlier this season in the Champions League. On that occasion, the Reds won 4-0 with Luis Diaz scoring a second-half hat-trick.
