‘Liverpool reaching full agreement on £200m+ Florian Wirtz deal’
Liverpool are edging closer to securing the signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz as a deal in excess of £200million is now being finalised.
The Germany international is the headline summer target for the Merseyside giants following his strong performances in the Bundesliga.
The 22-year-old registered 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024-25 season.
Man City were also in the race to sign Wirtz this summer, but they pulled out of any potential deal after he prioritised a move to Anfield.
Football Insider revealed on 24 May Liverpool were closing in on a deal for Wirtz, with Leverkusen believed to be looking for a fee in the region of £126million.
Arne Slot’s side have already signed Wirtz’s former Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong, who joined the club in a £34million deal earlier this month.
Florian Wirtz to agree mega-money Liverpool deal
Liverpool are still negotiating with Leverkusen over the fee for Wirtz, having already seen two bids rejected.
BBC Sport reported on 11 June the move is now at an advanced stage after the Reds submitted a third formal bid last week.
The latest offer is believed to be worth a guaranteed £100million and a further £14million in add-ons, with the talks now focused on the structure of the final details.
Liverpool are fully aware signing one of the best players in the world will cost them a huge fee and he will command high wages.
German newspaper Bild reported on 6 June Wirtz is set to be handed a five-year deal, which will be worth around £355,000 a week.
That would mean the attacking midfielder is guaranteed to earn £18.4million a year, or around £92million over the lifetime of the contract.
Liverpool will, therefore, be committing to pay around £206million over the next five years for Wirtz, including the £114million fee to Leverkusen.
Liverpool to smash club record after £400m reveal
Football Insider revealed on 11 June Liverpool’s wage bill is expected to have surpassed £400million for the first time in the 2024-25 season.
The Merseysiders were crowned Premier League champions in their first campaign under Slot.
Liverpool’s wage bill has been creeping up in recent years as they continue to reward their star players with well-paid salaries.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are the highest earners at Anfield, with the duo both believed to be on around £400,000 a week after signing new deals in April.
Liverpool’s wage bill increased from £373million to a record £386million in 2023-24 when they finished third in the Premier League table.
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