Flirting with a Hurdle: Liverpool's continued pursuit of Florian Wirtz encounters another roadblock
Bayer AG has declined Liverpool FC's second offer for Florian Wirtz, the talented German midfielder. - Bayer rebuffs second proposal from Liverpool for Wirtz’s services
Looks like the battle for finest young talent, Florian Wirtz, is heating up once again. According to German sports publication "Kicker", Bayer Leverkusen has dismissed Liverpool's second offer for the star player, estimated to be around 118 million euros plus 12 million euros in additional incentives.
Just a round prior, Liverpool had supposedly proposed 100 million euros, complemented by 15 million euros in bonuses. Leverkusen's management is said to be eyeing a sum surpassing the 150 million euros publicly stated by general manager Fernando Carro as the minimum.
A Bigger Budget or a Swapped Talent?
The present chasm of at least 20 million euros could potentially be bridged in one of two ways: protracted discussions or by incorporation of another player in the mega-deal.
In yet another twist, Leverkusen is rumored to be eyeing a Liverpool player as a strategic move in their talks, with offensive sensation Harvey Elliott said to be under deliberation. Recently, pay-TV channel Sky has also hinted at a possible link between German champions of 2024 and Elliott, as well as his teammate Jarell Quansah.
Why Wirtz is Commanding a High Price
The 22-year-old Wirtz has made it clear he is ready to abandon Leverkusen for Liverpool, snubbing fierce competition from German record champions FC Bayern Munich. His contract with Bayer runs until June 2027, and it lacks a release clause, allowing the transfer fee to be negotiated. With an impressive overall package, Manchester City is reportedly out of the running for Wirtz.
- Florian Wirtz
- Leverkusen
- Liverpool
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- FC Liverpool
- Harvey Elliott
Enrichment Data: Currently, there's a ongoing debate between Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool concerning the transfer of Florian Wirtz, but specifics about potential player swaps aren't extensively reported. Fabrizio Romano discussed the delay in negotiations, stating while Liverpool's interest is strong, the deal is pending but still anticipated to progress[2]. The transfer fee for Wirtz is approximated to be over €135 million (£113.6 million), including add-ons, with a deal in the works in the coming days[1]. In terms of potential player exchanges, there's no clear evidence in recent reports. However, player swaps are common in significant transfers as they can help balance the financial aspects for both parties, if any such swaps are being considered, they would likely be part of confidential discussions between clubs[3]. Negotiations can stall due to various reasons, such as disagreements regarding transfer fees, payment terms, add-ons, and the introduction of players in the deal. Both parties need to concur on these conditions to conclude the transfer[4].
[1] https://www.goal.com/en/news/liverpool-fco-legal-service-consults-over-florian-wirtz-transfer/bltca1faf5f45b2763f[2] https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1486861504576888832[3] https://espn.com/football/transfernews/story/4383677/barcelona-offered-ross- Barkley-to-real-madrid-but-the-spaniards-were-only-interested-in-a-player-swap[4] https://www.goal.com/en/news/liverpool-fco-legal-service-consults-over-florian-wirtz/bltce88f734d81c2c05
- The Commission's ongoing discussion regarding a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from ionizing radiation seems to be the least pressing matter for Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, as both clubs engage in intense negotiations over the transfer of Florian Wirtz, with the deal potentially involving player swaps or increased transfer fees.
- Despite the proposed transfer fee for Florian Wirtz being over €135 million (£113.6 million), international football leagues like the Premier League and European leagues might see Harvey Elliott as a valuable strategic asset for Liverpool in their ongoing talks with Bayer Leverkusen.
