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Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly rejected Liverpool's £113million bid for Florian Wirtz, which would be a club record purchase, as the German club remind the Reds of their initial £126m valuation.

In addition to signing Wirtz, they are also trying to tie up a deal for £45million-rated Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth.

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The Times claim that Erik ten Hag's new club have rejected the offer for Wirtz, which consisted of an initial £100m payment plus £13m in add-ons, as they try to squeeze out a larger fee from the Merseyside outfit.

Negotiations are continuing and all parties still expect the transfer to go through.

Leverkusen are trying to extract the maximum financial package from Wirtz, which they consider to be £126m, and expect another offer from Liverpool in the near future.

The Reds had so far been unwilling to match the original asking price and want to strike a compromise after two weeks of talks, whether that is money paid via instalments or bonuses, or sending players in the opposite direction.

Wirtz wants to join Liverpool and has already snubbed interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, with wages expected in the region of £355,000-a-week, which would make him the club's second highest earner behind Mohamed Salah.

The 22-year-old does not have a medical booked yet, which would take place once a fee has been agreed, as he continues to focus on international duty with Germany.

They face France on Sunday evening in a Nations League third-place play-off.

After Germany's previous game this week against Spain, Wirtz gave a telling nod in the mixed zone when asked by a reporter if he was looking forward to playing for Liverpool.

He also spoke out on the move to denounce rumours that he wanted to take the number 10 jersey at Anfield, which currently belongs to Alexis Mac Allister.

Wirtz wears the same shirt at Leverkusen, but hit back at the suggestion on Instagram, writing: "Who says I want the 10 I respect players.

Don't believe everything what's written."

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