Florian Wirtz transfer latest: Liverpool still £10m short of Bayer Leverkusen’s asking price for Germany star as Bundesliga club hold out for British-record fee

Liverpool remain in negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen over a deal for Florian Wirtz. Bayer want £120million and Liverpool are at £109m but Wirtz has made it clear he wants the move.

The Germany star has been convinced by Arne Slot’s clear plan of where he will play in Liverpool’s set-up as a No 10.

Should the Reds accede to Bayer’s demands, Wirtz would become the most expensive signing in British football, overtaking the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo. 

Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s Sporting Director, has proposed a package to his Leverkusen counterpart Simon Rolfes with easily attainable performance-related bonuses, such as Champions League qualification but the clubs are yet to agree a final fee. 

Talks will continue on Tuesday as the club attempt to find a middle ground.  

There is also a possibility that Bayer could bring a Liverpool player to Germany as part of the deal. Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah are both admired by Leverkusen, and either could be proposed as makeweight. 

Reds boss Arne Slot wants Wirtz to play in the No 10 role for the Premier League champions

Any deal for Wirtz, who is keen to join Liverpool, is likely to break the British transfer record

Liverpool have already successfully conducted business with Bayer this summer, signing Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m last week.  

Further talks are expected to take place this week with Bournemouth also for £40m-rated left-back Milos Kerkez. 

Hughes was Bournemouth’s technical director at the time the south coast club snapped up the Hungary international from Dutch side AZ two years ago.

Liverpool have yet to receive an approach from Everton for Ben Doak despite the winger being of interest to manager David Moyes. 

The former Celtic youth, who has been capped six times by Scotland at senior international level, spent the 2024-25 season out on loan at Middlesbrough.

Doak impressed at the Riverside, producing seven assists and three goals in 24 Championship appearances.