Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has opened up about Liverpool's ongoing pursuit of his teammate, Florian Wirtz, revealing the midfielder's desire to join the Premier League club and the impact the transfer saga has had on the team.

Tah stated that Wirtz is keen to make the move to Liverpool, which is a significant reason why Leverkusen have been negotiating heavily with the English club, who have tabled a record-breaking bid estimated at £100 million plus add-ons rising to £116 million. This deal would make Wirtz Liverpool's most expensive signing, surpassing Darwin Núñez's £85 million transfer in 2022.

Despite receiving substantial offers from several top European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, Wirtz has expressed a clear preference for Liverpool. Tah acknowledged that this preference has positively influenced Wirtz's motivation and outlook.

At the same time, Tah admitted that the transfer speculation has created a challenging environment within Leverkusen, as the team faces uncertainty over one of its key players. He mentioned that while the situation is difficult, all players aim to remain professional during the negotiation period to maintain strong team performances.

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Wirtz, age 23 and regarded as one of Europe's rising stars, has been instrumental for Leverkusen and is expected to play a similar creative role at Liverpool. His arrival is poised to bolster Liverpool’s midfield creativity under manager Arne Slot, potentially replacing Dominik Szoboszlai in the number 10 position with heightened goal contributions and pressing ability.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have already signed Wirtz’s former Leverkusen teammate, Jeremie Frimpong, signaling their ambition to strengthen the squad in this transfer window. The club’s efforts to finalize the deal are ongoing, with hopes to complete the transfer before the summer window closes on September 1.


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