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Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen(Image: Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)

Liverpool are continuing to pursue a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz.

The Reds have identified the playmaker as one of their key targets for the summer transfer window and remain in talks to get a deal over the line.

The ECHO reported last week that Liverpool had a £109million bid rejected for Wirtz by Leverkusen.



Talks remain ongoing for the Reds to bring Wirtz to Anfield as their second signing of the summer following the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong.

If Liverpool were to agree a deal for Wirtz, it would almost certainly be a club-record signing and overtake the £75million paid to Southampton for Virgil van Dijk and the €100million (£84million) deal for Darwin Nunez from Benfica back in 2022, which included a €75million initial fee worth £64million at the time.

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Only time will tell if Liverpool will get a deal over the line and there have been suggestions that Leverkusen value Wirtz closer to £125million.

The CIES Football Observatory has provided what they believe to be Wirtz's true market value.

The well-respected site states that Wirtz's current market value is between €101million (£85million) and €128million (£107.8million) - the upper figure being some £17m less than Leverkusen are demanding.

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Given that Liverpool have already had a £109million offer rejected by Leverkusen, it seems that the Bundesliga outfit may want a fee that is in excess of the 22-year-old's current market value.

According to the website, Wirtz is the seventh most valuable player in world football at this moment.

The Leverkusen star is behind only Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala, Cole Palmer and Julian Alvarez.

On Tuesday, Wirtz provided a hint that a transfer to Liverpool may be close to completion.

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On his Instagram story, the Germany international hit out at reports that he would want the No.10 shirt if he was to sign for Liverpool, a number currently worn by Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield.