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Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has been described as a 'genius' as Liverpool interest ramps up.(Image: Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Liverpool are gearing up for a record-breaking deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

The Reds have opened talks with the Bundesliga club, and it has been reported that the 22-year-old is leaning towards a high-profile Anfield move.

Wirtz has been earmarked as a priority signing for the Premier League champions and, according to BILD Sports' chief writer, Tobi Altschäffl, the versatile attacker will 'blow' Liverpool fans' minds.



Should a deal be completed, Arne Slot's side would win the chase for his signature, beating domestic rivals Manchester City and snatching him right from beneath the noses of German giants Bayern Munich.

It had long appeared Vincent Kompany's side were going to move to re-establish themselves as an immovable force at the summit of the Bundesliga, using Wirtz' arrival as the latest piece of their squad transformation.

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But Bayern president Herbert Hainer has since admitted that the Germany starlet is leaning towards a move to the soon-to-be crowned Premier League champions.

The ECHO understands that Liverpool want the deal to be completed as soon as possible with the Leverkusen star set to join up with Germany next month for the final stages of their UEFA Nations League campaign.

"Florian is a genius, I think he's made for the Premier League because he has good ball control and he's a very smart player," Altschaffl told the ECHO.

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"He does not have the physical body of a 1.90m (6ft 2in) player but he's strong, tough and how to defend himself.

"In Germany, we were expecting him to stay for two more years, before he was ready to take that step to England, but now he is convinced that Liverpool is the right team for him."

Wirtz would become one of the latest additions at Anfield from the Bundesliga after the recent arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo.

Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz with head coach Xabi Alonso.(Image: Jorg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)

The pair joined the club during the summer transfer window in 2022 and have made key contributions to help the Reds become the most successful club in English football.

The BILD journalist lauded the impact of Szoboszlai since joining from RB Leipzig but reckons Liverpool are getting a completely different entity to the Hungarian.

He went on: "Liverpool fans should be very excited, I know how much the fans admire good players and who give their heart for Liverpool.

"We knew from what Szoboszlai did in Germany that there was something, and you see him playing now and how Liverpool fans admire him, but this is nothing compared to what you will get with Florian Wirtz.

"He's the best export you can get from Germany, you can expect everything - he's going to blow your mind."

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