There is a sense of \u201cexpectation\u201d that Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen will soon settle on a fee for Florian Wirtz, according to James Pearce, while the \u2018historic transfer\u2019 looks unlikely to be the next one done at Anfield with the Reds also now taking the \u2018final steps\u2019 towards another \u00a342m deal.<\/p>\n
The Reds have wasted little time in trying to upgrade their Premier League title-winning squad, with Arne Slot keen to create a dynasty at Anfield. Having only made one concrete addition to his ranks last season, the Liverpool manager, with a hefty transfer warchest at his disposal, is ready to make a serious splash in this summer\u2019s window.<\/p>\n
Having already secured Jeremie Frimpong as a successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold and with Milos Kerkez also closing in on a move, it has been a somewhat breathless opening to the summer window at Anfield.<\/p>\n
However, the biggest coup of them all is also now edging closer, with optimism now growing that a final and total agreement will soon be struck for Leverkusen superstar Wirtz<\/a>.<\/p>\n Liverpool have so far seen two offers rejected by the Bundesliga side for the 22-year-old playmaker, but with FSG granting transfer chiefs the green light to raise that bid further, Pearce now expects an agreement to be struck in due course.<\/p>\n Speaking on The Athletic podcast \u2018Walk On\u2019<\/a>, Pearce stated:\u00a0\u201cDavid Ornstein reported late last week that a second bid of \u00a3109m went in. It wasn\u2019t accepted, but those discussions are ongoing.<\/p>\n \u201cI sense an expectation from both ends that a compromise will be reached. I think it massively helped Liverpool that Wirtz has made it clear to Liverpool that he wants the move to happen.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a huge expectation that he\u2019d be going to Bayern Munich. When we reported the interest, the people I\u2019d spoken to said it was about trying to ensure that Liverpool would be at the front of the queue if he was prepared to move outside of Germany.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly, Liverpool have done a magnificent job of selling the project to him.\u201d<\/p>\n An update from Bild<\/a> also reveals the \u2018historic\u2019 transfer is close, with Wirtz having already agreed terms on a five-year contract at Anfield and on wages understood to be for around \u00a3200,000 a week.<\/p>\n They state that the \u2018deal could ultimately amount to a sum between \u20ac140 and the 150m (\u00a3118m \u2013 \u00a3127m) demanded by Leverkusen boss Fernando Carro\u2019, with the transfer due to shatter the British transfer record, currently set by the \u00a3115m package Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo.<\/p>\n DON\u2019T MISS<\/strong>\u00a0\u2b50\u00a0Gary Neville drops Florian Wirtz verdict for Liverpool as pundit admits \u2018surprise\u2019 at fee<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Florian Wirtz: Liverpool in \u2018last steps\u2019 towards third huge transfer<\/strong><\/p>\n Bild\u2019s report continues that both\u00a0Liverpool and Leverkusen \u2018want to finalise the transfer as quickly as possible under their desired terms\u2019.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s claimed Leverkusen have the \u2018advantage\u2019 and look well placed to achieve their asking price, rather than the lower terms Liverpool have proposed as they know FSG\u2019s CEO of football, Michael Edwards, \u2018has already received approval from the club\u2019s owners in Boston for \u20ac150m (\u00a3127m) for Wirtz\u2019.<\/p>\n Despite a belief growing that a deal will soon be struck, it is unlikely that the 29-times capped Germany star will be the next summer signing announced by Liverpool.<\/p>\n That honour looks set to fall on Kerkez, with a deal in the region of \u00a340m to \u00a345m closing in.<\/p>\n Per TEAMtalk journalist, Rudy Galetti, writing on X<\/a>, a deal to bring Kerkez to Anfield is now in the final stages.<\/p>\n \u201cLiverpool are taking the last steps for Milos Kerkez<\/p>\n \u201cThe deal is almost sealed between Liverpool and Bournemouth for ~\u20ac50m plus performance-related bonuses as a final fee.<\/p>\n \u201cA five-year contract was already agreed upon with the player days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Liverpool transfer latest: Chiesa agrees exit; Gomez wanted by eight; Isak claims<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, there have been updates on the futures of Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez as Liverpool make big changes to their squad in preparation for their Premier League title defence next season.<\/p>\n Starting with Chiesa, it is now claimed the winger has \u2018agreed terms\u2019 to join one a team of European football royalty<\/a> after a frustrating time of things so far at Anfield.<\/p>\n He could be followed out the door by popular defender Gomez, who has as many as eight Premier League sides chasing him this summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Should the defender depart, he could be replaced by Marc Guehi. And according to our transfer correspondent, Galetti, the Reds have thundered into the race for the England star, though do currently trail to a big Italian side<\/a> who are also very much exploring his signing and with Crystal Palace reluctantly accepting they will have to sell him this summer.<\/p>\n And finally, it seems Wirtz may not be the biggest signing of the summer at Anfield, with a journalist revealing fresh Reds plans to go after Alexander Isak in a deal that could top \u00a3150m.<\/p>\n