Liverpool have opened direct talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a potential £125 million transfer for attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, who has expressed a strong desire to join the Premier League champions this summer. The 22-year-old German international, who played a key role in Leverkusen’s recent Bundesliga title win under Xabi Alonso, is viewed as a priority signing by Liverpool as they look to strengthen their squad following their Premier League triumph under Arne Slot.
Initial contact between the clubs followed Liverpool’s agreement to sign right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen, which has reportedly smoothed negotiations for Wirtz. Bayern Munich, once considered a leading contender for Wirtz’s signature, have accepted that the player favors a move to Anfield, with Manchester City withdrawing from the race partly due to the financial scale of the deal.
Wirtz, who extended his contract with Leverkusen until 2027, has been valued at around £125 million (€150 million), which would break Liverpool’s club transfer record previously set by Virgil van Dijk. The German midfielder’s creativity and goal threat—31 goal contributions last season—make him an ideal addition to Liverpool’s attacking options, potentially easing the creative burden currently carried by Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.
Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso has praised Wirtz’s maturity and talent, while the player himself has expressed a willingness to embrace a new challenge outside Germany, signaling his readiness for a move abroad. Liverpool’s management, with Arne Slot’s approval, is keen to finalize the deal in the coming weeks, although no formal agreement has yet been reached.
If completed, Wirtz’s signing would send a strong message of intent from Liverpool as they seek to build on their recent success and compete at the highest level in Europe.