Liverpool £113m bid for Wirtz rejected as reason for delay emerges | Football | Sport

Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly rejected Liverpool’s £113million bid for Florian Wirtz, which would have been a club record purchase, as the German club remind the Reds of their initial £126m valuation. The 22-year-old has already expressed his desire to move to Anfield as talks continue over a move.

Arne Slot‘s side are trying to conclude the majority of their transfer business early in the summer, having already replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong. In addition to signing Wirtz, they are also trying to tie up a deal for £45million-rated Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth.

The Times claim that Erik ten Hag‘s new club have rejected the offer for Wirtz, which consisted of an initial £100m payment plus £13m in add-ons, as they try to squeeze out a larger fee from the Merseyside outfit. Negotiations are continuing and all parties do still expect the transfer to go through.

A deal has not been completed despite weeks of negotiations because Leverkusen are playing hardball over the fee.

Leverkusen are trying to extract the maximum financial package from Wirtz, which they consider to be £126m, and expect another offer from Liverpool in the near future.

The Reds have been unwilling to match the original asking price so far. After two weeks of talks, they want to strike a compromise, whether that is money paid via instalments or bonuses or sending players in the opposite direction.

He also spoke out on the move to denounce rumours that he wanted to take the number 10 jersey at Anfield, which currently belongs to Alexis Mac Allister.

Wirtz wears the same shirt at Leverkusen, but hit back at the suggestion on Instagram, writing: “Who says I want the 10 I respect players. Don’t believe everything what’s written.”