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Liverpool have taken a decisive step in their quest to sign Bayer Leverkusen phenom Florian Wirtz, submitting an opening bid exceeding €100 million (£85 million) as negotiations between the clubs intensify.

The 22-year-old German international, who has already agreed to personal terms with the Reds, is reportedly awaiting the green light from club-to-club negotiations before a Liverpool medical.

The Bundesliga club, fresh off a second-place finish under Xabi Alonso, has acknowledged Liverpool interest.

Negotiations resumed on Monday, with both sides motivated to avoid a protracted standoff.

He is the kind of player that the club needs to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creativity.

The potential £126m outlay would shatter Liverpool’s transfer record (previously £85m for Darwin Nunez), but it remains to be seen if the club are able to chip this fee down.

Leverkusen may offer a discounted rate to non-Bundesliga clubs to avoid strengthening domestic rivals in Bayern, although the player has made it clear Liverpool is his ideal destination.

Die Werkself have not sold a player to Bayern Munich since 2004.

However, Erik Ten Hag, who has been announced today as the new Bayer Leverkusen manager, has kept cards close to his chest

This marks Ten Hag’s first managerial role since leaving Manchester United in October 2024.

The Dutchman has signed a contract with the Bundesliga club running until June 2027, succeeding Xabi Alonso after his move to Real Madrid.

Speaking at his unveiling, the ex-United boss was in a mood to give any favours to Liverpool

“He’s a super player,” Ten Hag said of Wirtz.

“I’ve watched him and his development with great joy.

Whether he’ll stay, you never know.”

This comes after Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes acknowledged the situation, saying:

“He’s one of our players.

There’s concrete interest from Liverpool,” he said on Monday.

Ten Hag was never going to openly admit that his star player has good chances of leaving this summer as a new incoming manager.

But it’s clear that Leverkusen as a whole are gearing towards their academy graduate’s exit.

It’s entirely possible that next time Ten Hag faces the media, he will be asked on how disappointed he is that Wirtz has departed.

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