Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Rudi Voller has watched Florian Wirtz's development.(Image: Stefan Matzke - sampics/Getty Images)

Florian Wirtz was leaning towards signing for Liverpool months before his ongoing transfer saga came to light, director of the German national team Rudi Voller has revealed from a private conversation between the pair and the midfielder's father who acts as his agent.

The Reds have since beaten strong rivals to secure a £116m agreement with Bayer Leverkusen.

And with that agreement, Wirtz is expected to arrive on Merseyside imminently to complete the final steps of that British-record transfer.



This was the culmination of weeks spent negotiating with Leverkusen chiefs to settle on the correct price and structure of the payment involved, all hinging from the Friday, May 23 turning point.

That was when Wirtz signalled to Liverpool and his other suitors, namely Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid, that Anfield is his destination of choice.

READ MORE:Mohamed Salah message speaks volumes as Liverpool Premier League plan confirmedREAD MORE:Curtis Jones spotted with Liverpool transfer 'target' as latest £75m stance clear

But now according to Voller, the playmaker's mind may have been made up long before that key date.

"A few months ago, he hinted to me, as did his father, that he had a tendency to go to Liverpool," Voller, 65, told retired German midfielder Toni Kroos and his brother on their Einfach mal Luppen podcast.

"Everyone was kind of hoping that he would stay here in Leverkusen for another year and not leave until after the World Cup.

That would have been my preferred solution," Voller went on, expressing the same sentiment as he has done previously, although then added: "But this is absolutely fine.

The boy is ready for the Premier League."

Article continues below

Voller can make that closing statement confidently because he not only understands Wirtz as a player - one who has conquered the Bundesliga and is already the face of their country's national side at 22 - but because he knows the person behind it all.

The midfielder has strong family values with his career watched over by father Hans and mother Karin.

They have helped guide every decision he has made, including the next step to move to Liverpool, and they have helped facilitate that in the £116m agreement that has been put in place.

Article continues below

Meanwhile, Liverpool bided their time with longer-term admiration - making it known that when the Wirtz family came to making their next career-defining choice, the Reds would be sat at the table ready to negotiate.

City's case quickly fell apart while Real Madrid never truly showed their true colours.

It was Bayern who attempted the biggest charm offensive, hoping that their stature within Germany would win them the race as they have done so often before.

In the end, Liverpool prevailed and are on the verge of making their next big statement signing.


For more news relating to Manchester City, visit our sister site City Latest Live.