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Jurgen Klopp's telling 'not dumb' remark as Liverpool 'set up £126m Florian Wirtz meeting'Liverpool are eager to sign Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz - and the Reds could be in pole
position to sign the playmaker given chief executive Michael Edwards' latest actionsCommentsSportHarry Brent Senior Sports Writer11:03, 21 May 2025Updated 11:36, 21 May 2025Liverpool are
eager to sign Florian Wirtz this summer(Image: Getty Images) Liverpool could be frontrunners to land Florian Wirtz, especially if Jurgen Klopp's past remarks are anything to go by. The Reds
are reportedly locked in a transfer battle with Bayern Munich after Manchester City decided to withdraw from the race for the 22-year-old playmaker.
Bayer Leverkusen have placed a massive €150million (£126m) valuation on Wirtz, meaning Liverpool would need to smash their current transfer record to bring him in. Still, reports suggest
they're seriously weighing up that possibility.
According to Bild, Liverpool chief executive Michael Edwards is scheduled to meet with Fenway Sports Group (FSG) in the United States this week, seeking the green light for an official
approach. He's expected to present a compelling case for investing heavily in the German star, who Liverpool have been tracking for years.
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This development will surely spark excitement among fans, particularly given Klopp's earlier assessment of Edwards. Just before leaving the club last year, Klopp called Edwards "not dumb"
and hinted that he wouldn't approach the owners unless there was real potential to convince them to move forward with a record-breaking investment.
"Michael and I, we always had a really good relationship," Klopp told the club's official site. "I'm really happy he's back... Michael is a top choice."
When asked whether Edwards, who returned in 2024, tried convincing him to stay, Klopp said: "No, because - and [this] is very important in the job - he is not dumb. It's not a subject to
talk about."
Article continues belowJurgen Klopp's past comments about Michael Edwards (left) suggest Liverpool are serious about their pursuit of Florian Wirtz(Image: Getty Images) Edwards, who
previously served as Liverpool's sporting director from 2016 to 2022, played a crucial role in assembling the Champions League and Premier League-winning sides of 2019 and 2020, bringing in
key players such as Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, and Fabinho.
Now, he's leading Liverpool's push for Wirtz, who's been in electric form, tallying 16 goals and 15 assists across all competitions this season. He was also central to Leverkusen's historic
Bundesliga title win last term, contributing 18 goals and 20 assists.
However, despite Liverpool's serious interest, Bayern Munich reportedly feel "certain" they will beat the Reds to the punch. The Bavarians have made Wirtz their top transfer target and are
willing to wait until 2026 to secure his signature.
Bayer Leverkusen have slapped a £126m asking price on Florian Wirtz(Image: PA) Bayern have a well-known pattern of signing standout talent from within the Bundesliga - a strategy that's
contributed to their domestic supremacy. Though their last major league signing was Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig in 2021, they've previously brought in stars like Robert Lewandowski,
Serge Gnabry, Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, and Mario Gotze from rival clubs.
Manchester City were once considered strong candidates for Wirtz, seen by many as a natural heir to Kevin De Bruyne. But they've now pulled out due to cost concerns.
With Leverkusen demanding £126m and the total deal - wages, bonuses, agent fees - potentially surpassing £250m, City deemed the move too expensive. They've instead turned their attention to
more affordable options like Morgan Gibbs-White and Tijjani Reijnders.
Bayer Leverkusen duo Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz could both end up at Liverpool this summer(Image: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)Article continues below Liverpool, who are also
close to landing Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen, will surely be considering the financial side too. But with Salah and Van Dijk recently committing their futures, some budgetary pressure
has eased - giving them space to pursue a high-profile player like Wirtz.
If successful, it would be a powerful signal for the club's new era - proving that Liverpool, even after Klopp, remain a top destination for elite players and a serious contender on the
European stage both on and off the pitch.