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FLORIAN WIRTZ IS SET TO BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLAYER IN PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY IF HE COMPLETES HIS MOVE TO LIVERPOOL, BUT THE REDS WOULD BE GETTING A LOT MORE THAN JUST A TOP-CLASS
TALENT 14:33, 29 May 2025Updated 14:34, 29 May 2025 Liverpool are not only eyeing a top-tier talent in Florian Wirtz, but they're also chasing a player with genuine character. This is
evident from a small yet significant gesture the German midfielder made towards Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany. Wirtz is set to become the priciest signing in Premier League history this
summer, as Liverpool are deep into discussions with Bayer Leverkusen for a sensational deal. The Reds have put forward an initial offer of €100million (£84m) plus add-ons, but Leverkusen
are reportedly holding out for something closer to £126m for the golden boy of German football. Bayern Munich had hoped to outdo Liverpool in the race for Wirtz's signature, having been
working on a deal behind the scenes for some time. However, they were informed last week that the player's preference was a move to the 20-time title winners and Premier League
champions. In a display of respect and class, Wirtz personally rang Kompany to explain his decision, as reported by Bild. This indicates that the 22-year-old would bring not just
extraordinary skill, but also a remarkable level of maturity to Merseyside - should his transfer to Liverpool be finalised in the upcoming weeks, reports the Mirror. Article continues below
Such maturity could account for Liverpool's readiness to break their transfer record for him. Owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) reportedly greenlit a hefty approach earlier this month,
following chief executive Michael Edwards' trip to the US to personally advocate for Wirtz's worth. Wirtz’s snub of Bayern Munich wasn't just down to Liverpool showing off
their deep pockets. Rumours buzz that he was totally taken by the famous atmosphere at Anfield during Leverkusen's clash with Liverpool in the Champions League last November. The day
after, Leverkusen had a peek at Liverpool's Melwood training facilities and Wirtz reportedly couldn’t help being wowed by the "state-of-the-art" setup. The Reds' boss
Arne Slot, though not playing a direct role, is said to have had a significant influence on bending Wirtz's ear, even if just indirectly. Transformed from a bright-eyed youngster to
world-class player by former Leverkusen boos Xabi Alonso, widely respected for his midfield mastery, it's believed that Wirtz trusts Slot, who also trod the pitch as a midfielder, to
guide him to similar successes at Liverpool. Wirtz has been absolutely dazzling on the German pitches, becoming a crucial part of Leverkusen's fairy tale title win in the 2023/24
Bundesliga season, bagging an astounding 31 goal involvements over 45 matches this term. If he seals the deal to Anfield, the hype around him will be massive and he'll feel the heat to
hit the ground running straight away – especially if he comes in as Liverpool's priciest buy ever. He’d be swiping the record from Darwin Nunez, who landed from Benfica for a hefty £85m
back in 2022 but hasn't justified the outlay since then. Should Leverkusen's price tag be met, Wirtz will smash the record to become the priciest player in English football
history. The current record is held by Moises Caicedo, whose £115m switch from Brighton to Chelsea in 2023 - a deal nearly snatched by Liverpool - set the standard, just pipping
Chelsea's £106m acquisition of Enzo Fernandez and Arsenal's £105m splurge on Declan Rice earlier that year. Article continues below However, the Wirtz transaction wouldn't
surpass the highest transfer fee ever involving a Premier League club. That honour still belongs to Philippe Coutinho's whopping £142m move from Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018 - a
transfer that funded Liverpool's acquisition of the bedrocks of their incredible success since - Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.