Liverpool has increased their offer for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to reports, but still falls short of the German club’s asking price.
The Reds have previously made two unsuccessful bids for the 22-year-old talent, the most recent being €130 million (£109.6 million, $148.3 million).
Leverkusen has consistently maintained their asking price of €150 million (£126.4 million, $171.1 million).
In an effort to persuade Leverkusen to agree to a sale, The Times was the first to report that Liverpool has submitted a new proposal totaling €134 million (£113 million, $152.8 million).The majority of this amount would be guaranteed for Leverkusen, who are still thought to be aiming to receive their full asking price.
However, The Athletic highlights concerns regarding his contract situation, as Wirtz is nearing the final two years of his existing agreement.
Consequently, this transfer window represents the last opportunity for Leverkusen to secure a price close to his full market value.
It is emphasized that Liverpool has “no intention” of fulfilling Leverkusen’s asking price, with negotiations between the two clubs ongoing.
There is significantly more optimism emanating from the German outlet kicker.
This report suggests that an agreement between the two clubs is imminent and that there are “no longer any serious doubts” regarding the likelihood of a deal being finalized.
If Liverpool and Leverkusen reach an agreement, Wirtz would become the most expensive transfer in Bundesliga history; however, the current offer from the Reds would not surpass the Premier League transfer record.
At £113 million, Wirtz would surpass the fee of Enzo Fernández’s transfer to Chelsea, yet it would still be less than the £115 million ($155.6 million) that the Blues paid to acquire Moisés Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion during the summer of 2023.
Wirtz, for his part, is eager to join Liverpool this summer and has already visited the city to look for a house in preparation for a potential transfer.