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Liverpool are ready to battle Manchester City and favourites Bayern Munich for the signing of Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)

Liverpool are ready to go head to head with both Manchester City and Bayern Munich to sign Florian Wirtz.

The Bayer Leverkusen star has emerged as a target for the new Premier League champions as they go about restructuring their squad under Arne Slot this summer in preparation of their defence of the title.

Anfield chiefs reached out to Wirtz’s representatives and have been informed to expect competition from both City and Bayern.

The former are looking to rebuild after a frustrating campaign under Pep Guardiola and the Germany international has been earmarked as the heir to Kevin De Bruyne, who is leaving this summer after a decade of service at the Etihad.

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Wirtz, according to details reported in the national media on Wednesday, was in the North West on Tuesday for a tour of Man City’s facilities with his parents before flying back to his homeland.

And the ECHO understands Liverpool also made known their interest to the 22-year-old and his parents ahead of his next major career decision.

It's been claimed representatives from the club met with Wirtz, his mother Karin and father and agent Hans, as the Reds looked to solidify their interest.

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However, the expectation at this stage remains that Wirtz will remain in Germany at either Leverkusen or Bayern Munich.

Liverpool have a long-standing admiration for the attacking midfielder and have been impressed from afar as he has developed into one of the stars of the Bundesliga under Xabi Alonso, who is expected to become the next head coach at Real Madrid after confirming plans to leave the BayArena.

Anfield insiders believe Wirtz is more likely to leave Leverkusen for new Bundesliga champions Bayern but have registered their interest with his camp.

If Wirtz is prepared to leave Germany for a future in the Premier League, the Reds would be prepared to step up their interest further and a deal for the versatile attacker would represent a major statement of intent ahead for the Slot era as the club go about tweaking his squad to defend the Premier League title.

It’s been reported in Germany that the cost involved to bring the £125m-rated Wirtz to Munich might be too difficult to finance for Bayern, which could open the door to the Premier League with both the new champions and City keen.

Speaking earlier this week, Leverkusen’s managing director Fernando Carro said: "The rumours surprised me a bit when I started in the football business seven years ago.

Gradually, I've been there longer, there are always different interested parties, there are different parties, there are different relationships.

"It's actually quite difficult to find out where the rumours come from, but I have to say, there are many that really surprise me."

Liverpool have spent just £10m in transfer fees since the summer of 2023, with Federico Chiesa's 2024 arrival from Juventus the only time the club has gone into the market for a senior player since Ryan Gravenberch signed from Bayern Munich nearly two years ago.

And having wrapped up the Premier League title with four games to spare after finishing as Champions League group-stage winners before a last-16 exit to Paris Saint-Germain, it's thought that the Reds will have money to spend this summer.

Speaking before the recent defeat to Chelsea, Liverpool head coach Slot said: “(Being champions) definitely helps, I think, to attract new players as well, because mostly the players that we want to have, we are not the only clubs who think they are good players, so these players have probably more options.

"And then it helps maybe for them to see that the way we do things over here is special, I think you can say that.

"In the background, of course I did (plan for next season) already a little bit, because it's not like after we won the league, that's the first time Richard (Hughes, sporting director) called me and said: 'Okay, these are the players we are interested in!'”

Outgoings are also expected to increase the pot for Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes with players like Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas and Darwin Nunez all the subject of uncertain futures.

Reports in Germany have suggested Wirtz could cost somewhere around the £125m mark, which would smash Liverpool's transfer record by at least £35m given the £85m committed for Nunez in the summer of 2022 from Benfica.

The Reds were prepared to break the British transfer record to land Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion nearly two years ago but their £111m offer was eventually gazumped by Chelsea, who signed the Ecuador international for £115m.

Despite that enormous bid, however, a deal of that size for Wirtz would represent a major departure from the club’s recruitment model.

Wirtz was a key player for Xabi Alonso last term as Leverkusen won the title.

The Cherries centre-back has a £50m release clause inserted into his contract at the Vitality Stadium and is the subject of interest from a number of European giants.

Jeremie Frimpong is another who has been linked with the Reds, with the Bayer Leverkusen right-back reportedly keen on a switch to Merseyside.

It's understood the Netherlands international has admirers at the AXA Training Centre and a £30m release clause makes it a viable option, should Liverpool decide to pursue the 24-year-old as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement.


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