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Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.(Image: Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

Liverpool have offered £109m, Bayer Leverkusen reportedly want £126m - that where Liverpool's negotiations to sign Liverpool Wirtz this summer currently stand.

Entering the first week of the summer transfer window, this saga is soon to provide answers over what the two clubs will do.

As reported by the ECHO on Friday, the Reds had submitted their club-record offer for Wirtz.



The 22-year-old is a priority target now that he has quite clearly indicated that Premier League champions Liverpool are his preferred destination rather than German champions Bayern Munich, whilst Manchester City conceded defeat long before.

Whilst English national titles The Times and The Telegraph say the Reds' £109m talks are continuing, over in Germany the publication Kicker would suggest that Leverkusen are still confident of reaching an agreement in their intended £126m range.

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Or they alternatively suggest one method the two clubs could use to come to an accord over Wirtz is the inclusion of one Liverpool fringe player to head to Germany in the deal.

There is one who is seemingly a 'favourite' of Leverkusen's, this would leave four to choose from...

Citing his ability to play as a No.10 or on the flank, Kicker name Harvey Elliott as a player Leverkusen would consider as a replacement for Wirtz.

If the German national is signed, the chance of playing as Liverpool's attacking midfielder would further diminish as Dominik Szoboszlai would be expected to take on the role when Wirtz is not.

However, they also recognise that it would be difficult to tempt the England Under-21 international to the BayArena if there are other offers from Premier League clubs to compete with.

As the ECHO recognised this morning, Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Bournemouth have all been linked to Elliott amid the uncertainty over his long-term future.

Another player who struggled for game time under Arne Slot in 2024/25 was Jarell Quansah, with the defender averaging only 51.6 minutes per appearance.

Newcastle United were rumoured to be interested both this year and last, though at present the Reds envisage the 22-year-old as remaining as part of their squad next term.

It would have to a be a change of mind to send him to Germany any time soon.

A second defender that could be offered up is Joe Gomez, who was definitively subject to Newcastle interest last summer though remained at Anfield to complete 10 seasons with Liverpool.

Unfortunately, the majority of that 10th season has been spent recovering from various injury troubles and he has barely been able to play a part for Slot's side.

His talent and versatility can't be questioned, but his fitness record can be.

Leverkusen have lost key central defender Jonathan Tah to a free transfer to Bayern Munich and also Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool, so will require strengthening in defence.

Last summer Leverkusen, then under Xabi Alonso's management, sought to sign Tyler Morton on loan from the Reds for the 2024/25 campaign.

Instead the club would have preferred a £20m sale, and when they did not get the sum they decided to keep the 22-year-old as cover.

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Having played only five times this term, not once in the Premier League, his future is going to have to be discussed once again and the Bundesliga outfit may be able to offer a solution that suits all.


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