Liverpool open talks to sign £126m midfielder after Manchester City approach

Liverpool have made an approach to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz (Getty) Liverpool have held talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to reports in Germany. The 22-year-old has been one of Leverkusen’s standout players with 21 goals and 23 assists over the last two Bundesliga campaigns. Wirtz has attracted interest from several clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with Bayern Munich and Manchester City both keen on a deal. The Germany international has also been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Arsenal over the past 12 months. Last week, reports claimed that Wirtz has agreed to join Bayern, although the Bundesliga champions have not agreed a transfer fee with Leverkusen. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday 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. On Tuesday, Wirtz travelled to England via private jet with his parents, Karin Gross and Hans Wirtz, to hold talks with Manchester City. But according to Kicker, Bild and Suddeutsche Zeitung, Wirtz and his parents also met with Liverpool to discuss a potential move to Anfield. Florian Wirtz is also wanted by Manchester City and Bayern Munich (Getty) Leverkusen are open to selling Wirtz this summer but are demanding a €150 million (£126.3m) transfer fee for the Germany international. When asked about Wirtz’s reported agreement with Bayern, Leverkusen’s CEO, Fernando Carro, said on Tuesday: ‘I know it’s not true, and it’s annoying when you read reports that aren’t true. ‘Of course, Florian has to think about his future, but at least we are not aware, and I can assume that’s correct, that anything has been decided for him.’ Leverkusen are already losing their head coach Xabi Alonso, who is set to take over Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. The Bundesliga club are also facing the prospect of selling Jeremie Frimpong, who has a €35 million (£29.6m) release clause and is Liverpool’s first-choice replacement for Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

May 15, 2025 - 00:04

Liverpool open talks to sign £126m midfielder after Manchester City approach

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 10: Florian Wirtz of Leverkusen looks on during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at BayArena on May 10, 2025 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by J??rg Sch??ler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images) — Liverpool have made an approach to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz (Getty)

Liverpool have held talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to reports in Germany.

The 22-year-old has been one of Leverkusen’s standout players with 21 goals and 23 assists over the last two Bundesliga campaigns.

Wirtz has attracted interest from several clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with Bayern Munich and Manchester City both keen on a deal.

The Germany international has also been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Arsenal over the past 12 months.

Last week, reports claimed that Wirtz has agreed to join Bayern, although the Bundesliga champions have not agreed a transfer fee with Leverkusen.

Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday

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.

On Tuesday, Wirtz travelled to England via private jet with his parents, Karin Gross and Hans Wirtz, to hold talks with Manchester City.

But according to Kicker, Bild and Suddeutsche Zeitung, Wirtz and his parents also met with Liverpool to discuss a potential move to Anfield.

Leverkusen are open to selling Wirtz this summer but are demanding a €150 million (£126.3m) transfer fee for the Germany international.

When asked about Wirtz’s reported agreement with Bayern, Leverkusen’s CEO, Fernando Carro, said on Tuesday: ‘I know it’s not true, and it’s annoying when you read reports that aren’t true.

‘Of course, Florian has to think about his future, but at least we are not aware, and I can assume that’s correct, that anything has been decided for him.’

Leverkusen are already losing their head coach Xabi Alonso, who is set to take over Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

The Bundesliga club are also facing the prospect of selling Jeremie Frimpong, who has a €35 million (£29.6m) release clause and is Liverpool’s first-choice replacement for Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.