LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool don make first move to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz. The Germany playmaker na main target for coach Arne Slot as Premier League champions dey plan ahead for next season.
Liverpool dey prepare to bring in Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen, and during those talks, dem also show interest for Wirtz, wey dey 22 years old. Formal negotiation never start yet, but e go soon start for player wey Leverkusen value pass £120 million.
The burning question be whether Liverpool go fit pay that kain money, wey go surpass wetin Chelsea pay Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in 2023. However, reports dey say Wirtz like the idea of joining Liverpool pass going to Bayern Munich, making Liverpool and Bayern the main contenders for his signature.
Coach Arne Slot talk say the club dey serious about signings this summer. “No plenty players fit improve us, but the few wey dey out there, we go try to grab them,” Slot tell BBC. “As we dey talk now, we no sure if that go happen.”
Wirtz don show him talent well as he score 16 goals and assist 15 in all competitions this season. Dis one make am perfect choice for Liverpool wey dey look for top-season recruits to step higher.
Reports from Germany don suggest say Wirtz willing to move to Anfield, but e no clear if Leverkusen go allow am leave without settling the transfer fee first. Before, dem talk say Manchester City don drop out for the race, leaving Liverpool and Bayern as the main suitors.
As per valuation, Leverkusen dey price Wirtz at about $169 million (£126 million), but Liverpool fit negotiate for lower upfront payment with add-ons. Dem also believe say Leverkusen go prefer to let Wirtz leave abroad instead of selling to a rival like Bayern, wey finish 13 points ahead of Leverkusen last season.
Bayern icon Stefan Effenberg criticize Wirtz for taking time to decide him future. Effenberg describe Wirtz indecision as “undignified” and call for clearer communication regarding him future. “He don win everything for Germany already. E go good if we fit hear directly from Wirtz side about wetin dem plan,” Effenberg write.
Liverpool dey observe other transfer opportunities as well, including a player with a release clause worth $39 million (£30 million). Wirtz don make history as di youngest scorer in Bundesliga when e score him first goal for Bayer Leverkusen at age 17, and e don also find net six times for 29 caps for Germany.
This summer fit see Liverpool go all out to strengthen their squad after dem make profit last summer with only Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili as signings. Fans dey expect Liverpool to be busier and spend more money as dem look to maintain dem Premier League champions status.
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