Liverpool wait on Florian Wirtz green light after private transfer talks
Liverpool are expected to be active in the upcoming summer transfer window and they have already been in contact with Florian Wirtz over a potential switch to Anfield
Liverpool have joined Bayern Munich and Manchester City in the race for Florian Wirtz after contacting the Bayer Leverkusen star's camp to gauge his interest in a potential transfer this summer.
The sought after 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked with Bayern and City in recent months after another stellar season for Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso. Interest from the Reds is understood to be longstanding, with Liverpool ready to make significant moves in the summer transfer window to build upon their Premier League title triumph.
With Arne Slot and the club's recruitment team seeking reinforcements in attack, a potential swoop for Wirtz would tick a lot of boxes - if the Germany international is open to moving abroad.
As first revealed by The Athletic, contact between Liverpool and Wirtz's representatives was purely for the former to express interest in the player. It has been speculated Wirtz wants to stay at Leverkusen - or at the very least within the Bundesliga - but Liverpool are ready to pursue a deal if the player indicates he is open to a move to England.
Leverkusen are in a strong bargaining position if Wirtz does decide to move on; he is contracted to the club until 2027 and is believed to be valued at a seismic €150million (£126.2m) by the former German champions.
Wirtz has 10 goals and 12 assists to his name this season after starring in last year's title-winning campaign and is among a number of key figures Leverkusen could soon lose.
They are already aware that Alonso will move on at the end of the Bundesliga campaign with the former Real Madrid midfielder primed to replace the outgoing Carlo Ancelotti at his old stomping ground.
Join the debate! Where do you think Wirtz will be playing next season? Let us know here
Liverpool, meanwhile, are also interested in acquiring Jeremie Frimpong, the attacking right-back who many believe would be the perfect replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is also Bernabeu-bound.
The 24-year-old has a release clause written into his contract and there had been talk a deal was close earlier this week. Bayer Leverkusen's managing director, Fernando Carro, however, insists this is not the case.
"Jeremie Frimpong has a long contract with us, which also has an exit clause, but we are currently unaware of any transfer," Carro told sport.de. "The rumors surprised me a bit when I started in the football business seven years ago.
"As I've gradually become more involved, there are always different interested parties, there are different parties, there are different relationships. It's actually quite difficult to figure out where the rumors come from, but I have to say, there are many that really surprise me."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
5 minutes ago
- Metro
Mike Maignan and Jamie Gittens' stances on Chelsea transfer moves revealed
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens both wish to join Chelsea this summer, according to reports. The west London club are keen to sign a new goalkeeper after a series of unconvincing performances from Robert Sanchez in the 2024-25 season. Chelsea are already in talks over a deal for Maignan but it is thought that they are reluctant to meet AC Milan's current €30m (£25m) asking price for the France international. As negotiations continue, it has now been revealed by French outlet L'Equipe that the 29-year-old wants to leave AC Milan in order to join Chelsea. The same is true for Dortmund winger Gittens – German outlet BILD have reported – in what has become a double transfer boost for the Blues. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. It is believed that €60m (£50.5m) would be enough for Chelsea to wrap up the deal for the 20-year-old Englishman 'very quickly'. Chelsea are keen to have Gittens in their squad for the Club World Cup after sending Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United following his loan. 'There's definitely a market for [Gittens],' Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl told Sport1's Doppelpass show last month. 'He's a very exciting player. We'll be having discussions soon. If offers come in, we'll have to deal with them.' Chelsea opened talks with Dortmund over a move for Gittens this week, after he also attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool. Gittens has played 106 games for Dortmund to date, registering 17 goals and 14 assists for the German club. Born in Reading, the England U21 international has spent his entire senior career with the Bundesliga side to date, having joined their youth team from Manchester City five years ago. Frank Leboeuf wants Chelsea to make an 'exception' and break from their transfer policy by signing experienced goalkeeper Maignan this summer. ''Magic Mike' is his nickname because he's so exceptional,' ex-Chelsea defender Leboeuf told ESPN FC when asked about his French compatriot. 'I think he will fit perfectly to Chelsea, if Chelsea have decided to give an exception in their trading business system. 'If they decide to go for Mike, that is a very good decision because the guy is a real good goalkeeper… I think he will be very useful to Chelsea.' It's already been a busy summer transfer window for Chelsea, who announced on Wednesday that they've signed Liam Delap from Ipswich. More Trending Delap, who has joined for £30m, is set to fight Nicolas Jackson to become the Blues' No.1 striker under head coach Enzo Marsesca. Estevao Willian, Dario Essugo and Kendry Paez are all arriving at Chelsea this summer too. It is thought that Chelsea have immediate first-team plans for Estevao, who has been compared to likes of Neymar and Lamine Yamal. MORE: Chelsea's Jadon Sancho snub baffles former Liverpool star MORE: Liverpool given update on Florian Wirtz transfer by Germany sporting director MORE: Marcus Rashford handed transfer boost as Liverpool respond to Barcelona approach for Luis Diaz
The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
Manchester United launch transfer bid for Brenford forward Bryan Mbeumo
Manchester United have made a first formal approach for Bryan Mbeumo but have seen their bid rebuffed by Brentford. United are understood to have offered in the region of £45m for the Cameroonian international, with a further £10m in performance-related add-ons, but Brentford are holding out for more than £60m. Mbeumo has only a year left on his contract which gives United some leverage as they look to prise away the 25-year-old, who scored 20 goals and made seven assists in the Premier League last season. But Brentford consider Mbeumo a key player and are prepared to trigger an option in his contract which would extend his stay at the Gtech Community Stadium by a further 12 months in order to keep him. Manager Thomas Frank said last month that Mbeumo's sale was possible but that he would be 'expensive' for potential suitors, who also include Newcastle United. Mbeumo suits United's preference for proven Premier League talent who are yet to reach their peak, following the £62.5m signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves. Mbeumo also appeals for his versatility, being able to play across the forward line, and for his outstanding fitness record, having played in all 38 of Brentford's league games in two out of the past three seasons. With Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all expected to leave the club this summer, United need to acquire more attacking options. Mbeumo has the potential to fit into Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 system either as a striker or as one of two No 10s in support. United also want to sign a goalkeeper, a wing-back and a midfielder, but first need to offload a raft of players in order to free up headroom within the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
Scottish Sun
12 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Russell Martin says I've won people over at EVERY club I've been at – and tells Rangers fans we can win trophies NOW
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN has revealed Rangers were ALWAYS his first choice. And that's despite the fact his agent told him to play DOWN his interest in the role. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Russell Martin has been unveiled as the new boss at Rangers Credit: PA Martin, 39, was confirmed as the Ibrox club's new head coach this morning. The former Norwich City, Scotland and Gers defender had been out of work since being sacked by Southampton in December 2024 after their disastrous Premier League run. Martin decided to take a break after his dismissal from the south coast club and passed up on opportunities to immediately return to the dugout. A few months later, Philippe Clement was sacked by Rangers and Martin knew straight away that he wanted the job. He's had to bide his time, first as Barry Ferguson came in as interim boss and then as the club created a shortlist that included Davide Ancelotti and Steven Gerrard. In that time, Martin became linked with the Leicester City job. But it wasn't enough to change Martin's mind that Rangers were the outstanding club for him. And it just so happened that he was the outstanding candidate for both chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell. Martin said in his first press conference today: "I'll be really honest, there were a few opportunities since I left Southampton, early on. "Then I had a bit of a break, I was keen to get back into things around February and March time. What next for Rangers after American takeover is confirmed? "I had some tentative approaches but I wanted to reflect on what I've learnt as a coach, a leader and that time was important. "As soon as the Rangers job came up, this was the one I really wanted. "I wanted it because of the expectation, the size of the club and what it means to people. "Rangers is something completely different to anything else in football and I felt that when I was here as a player. "That comes into my mind too, that the one thing that hurt me when I look back on my career is that it didn't go well here. "I'm desperate to show a different version of myself here than I did previously. "So with all that in mind I was really honest from the outset that I wanted to be the Rangers manager and that this was my first choice. "My agent kept saying to me to play my cards close to my chest but I was really open and honest and now I'm delighted to be here." Martin told fans how he wants his team to play but knows his main priority is to win. And, he believes he can turn the Light Blues into title challengers this season. He said: "We've managed three clubs and the teams were all really different, but we had the same concept of the game. "We wanted to be aggressive on the ball and without it. You can't have one without the other. "But I've used different formations, shapes and personnel. "We are here to WIN and we'll do that in the best way we possibly can. "I think we can have a team that is better, wins more points, wins more games. And competes, really competes to win trophies." Some Rangers fans are lukewarm on Martin's appointment to say the least. And to those sections of the support, Martin delivered a personal message - insisting that he's won fans over before at EVERY club he's been at. He said: "To the fans, I have to win. I don't think I've been the number one choice at any club I've been at. "At MK Dons to go from a player to become a manager is a bit of a surprise to the fans. "At Swansea they were being linked with all sorts, they had lost in the play-off final then we turned up from League One. "At Southampton the same, they had just been relegated from the Premier League and I'm sure there were loads of names linked with the job. "But by the time I've left every club I've felt a real connection with the fans, they are right behind us, and definitely the players and the playing staff. Hopefully this will be the same. "And I hope the fans judge me on this moment, not on my playing career here, because that was very different." 2 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
