Toa Payo: PonteSud – News Desk
Florian Wirtz said he wants to win it all at Liverpool after completing a blockbuster move from Bayer Leverkusen on June 20, which could reportedly rise to an English Premier League record fee.
Reports in England said the Premier League champions will pay an initial £100 million, $173 million for Wirtz, comfortably surpassing their own record outlay, with a further £16 million in performance-related add-ons making it a British record deal.
However, the German media suggested the fee could be even higher, starting at €130 million, $192 million with add-ons taking it to €150 million.
Wirtz played a crucial role in Leverkusen’s greatest season, as they claimed a first-ever Bundesliga title and the German Cup in 2023-24 without losing a single game under Alonso.
Their only defeat that season, during which Wirtz was crowned Bundesliga Player of the Year, came in the Europa League final by Atalanta, denying Leverkusen a memorable treble.
Bayern Munich restored their grip on the German game last season, with Leverkusen a distant second, and Wirtz is joining an exodus from the BayArena. Netherlands defender Jeremie Frimpong has already made the move from Leverkusen to Liverpool.
After largely keeping their powder dry in the transfer market during Arne Slot’s first season in charge, the Reds are splashing out to strengthen a side who romped to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is poised to make the move to Anfield in a £40 million deal. The 21-year-old caught Liverpool’s eye last season with his fine form for the Cherries, including two goals and five assists in 38 Premier League appearances.
Liverpool are already blessed with an abundance of forward options, with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo all posing a goal threat.
However, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa now face even stiffer competition to break into Slot’s starting line-up, raising the prospect of Liverpool selling one or more of the trio to free up additional transfer resources.
