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In act of class and respect, Wirtz is said to have personally phoned Kompany to explain his reasoning, according to Bild.

This gesture indicates that the 22-year-old offers more than just technical brilliance - he also appears to bring maturity and professionalism that would benefit Liverpool, assuming the deal is finalized in the coming weeks.

That maturity might explain why Liverpool are prepared to smash their existing transfer record to secure his services.



Florian Wirtz (L) reportedly phoned Vincent Kompany (R) out of respect to explain the reason for his snub

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is also thought to have been influential in swaying Wirtz, even if indirectly.

Having evolved from a promising youngster into an international sensation under the tutelage of former Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, who, as a midfielder himself, knew how to nurture his skills, Wirtz is reportedly optimistic that Slot, also an ex-midfielder, will continue that developmental trajectory on Merseyside.

His recent performances in Germany have been nothing short of electrifying

Wirtz was reportedly impressed by the atmosphere at Anfield, as well as the facilities at Liverpool's Melwood training ground

He'll face immense pressure to deliver from day one - particularly if he eclipses the club's current transfer record, held by Darwin Nunez, who arrived from Benfica for $114M in 2022, but has struggled to meet expectations.

If Leverkusen's demands are met, Wirtz would officially become the priciest player in English football history

The existing record is held by Moises Caicedo, whose $155M switch from Brighton to Chelsea in 2023 - a transfer Liverpool nearly hijacked - set the benchmark, just ahead of Chelsea's $143M move for Enzo Fernandez and the $141M Arsenal paid for Declan Rice.

Still, it wouldn't surpass the biggest deal involving a Premier League team, which remains Philippe Coutinho's $191M transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018.


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