How Liverpool beat Man City and Bayern to Florian Wirtz: Arne Slot's key role, what the star was telling his team-mates and how the club went 'all out' to secure British record £116m deal
Share this @internewscast.com

Florian Wirtz is on the verge of becoming the 10th football player to transfer for a fee in the nine-figure range, but Liverpool believes he will defy the pattern observed among other £100 million transfers.

Of the previous nine, how many of these have been a pound-for-pound success?

Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Moises Caicedo (Chelsea).

Thus, Wirtz, whose transfer costs will be a base £100 million with possible additional fees up to £16 million, is expected to stand out from his predecessors. However, the Premier League champions, Liverpool, are confident that his value justifies the investment.

That is why owners Fenway Sports Group have sanctioned such an eye-watering investment, that is why manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes went, as sources describe, ‘all out’ to get this transfer over the line.

Liverpool had fostered a relationship with the Wirtz family for some years, going back to when they kept an eye on the then-teenager at his former club Cologne. Bayer Leverkusen trained at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre in November and he was impressed with the facilities.

Florian Wirtz is set to join Liverpool after the Reds agreed to pay Bayer Leverkusen £116m

Florian Wirtz is set to join Liverpool after the Reds agreed to pay Bayer Leverkusen £116m

Liverpool boss Arne Slot played a key role in getting the deal over the line

Liverpool boss Arne Slot played a key role in getting the deal over the line

Pep Guardiola's Man City missed out on Wirtz and had to move on to other targets

Pep Guardiola’s Man City missed out on Wirtz and had to move on to other targets

This is the first marquee signing of the Reds’ bold new era led by Slot and Hughes, arguably the first elite-level player they have bought since Alisson or Virgil van Dijk – most other additions have tended to be promising stars with room for improvement.

Wirtz, of course, does have room for improvement. The 22-year-old, described as a ‘quiet guy with no ego’, knows that and Slot knows that. The Dutch manager, ultimately, was the man who tempted the German superstar to pick Liverpool over their rivals.

In many senses, Slot and Co had nothing to lose. A month ago, it looked certain that Wirtz was heading to German giants Bayern Munich. One source recently described Bayern as ‘sleeping at the wheel’ in terms of signing him.

Normally, the best talents in Germany are mopped up by the Bavarian super-power. Manchester City were also incredibly keen but pulled out of the race citing the astronomical costs involved. Or, in other words, both City and Bayern pulled out because he rejected them.

Wirtz had held talks with both Pep Guardiola and Bayern boss Vincent Kompany but it was Slot who convinced the family including father-cum-agent Hans-Joachim that Liverpool was the place for him. That, in itself, is a statement and a half.

After one eagle-eyed photographer snapped the Wirtz family in north west England, media speculation immediately said he was here to finalise a move to Manchester. Down the East Lancashire Road in Kirkby, though, Liverpool knew he was their man.

In fact, everyone has known the direction of travel for some weeks now. When asked by Mail Sport in Munich if he was ‘excited for Liverpool’, Wirtz nodded in our direction. Maybe it was a polite greeting but, whatever he meant by the nod, he knew he was bound for Merseyside.

Wirtz, in fact, had been telling people that a deal was complete all week. It was not, as the two clubs were thrashing out the finer details, but the player had been telling his confidantes that his move to Liverpool was done and dusted.

Liverpool’s third bid came 10 days ago and that was £100m plus £14m in add-ons but the pair continued to negotiate up until yesterday when they finally shook hands on £100m plus £16m in bonuses which include winning the league, Champions League and even the Ballon d’Or.

The Anfield power-brokers, of course, will not mind a jot if those add-ons are triggered. As a reminder from our dispatch from Munich last week, here are the verdicts of two German football experts as to what Liverpool are getting for their money.

Wirtz looked destined to join Harry Kane and Vincent Kompany at Bayern at one stage

Wirtz looked destined to join Harry Kane and Vincent Kompany at Bayern at one stage

Wirtz and Jamal Musiala (left) are expected to be the future of German football, and now the former has the chance to prove himself in the Premier League

Wirtz and Jamal Musiala (left) are expected to be the future of German football, and now the former has the chance to prove himself in the Premier League

Expensive transfers do not always work out, with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar failing to win the Champions League at PSG

Expensive transfers do not always work out, with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar failing to win the Champions League at PSG

‘He can control the game and the rhythm,’ says Maximilian Koch, chief reporter for the Abendzeitung newspaper. ‘He reminds me of Andres Iniesta, a very intelligent and creative player. He can also score and assist, which makes him a complete player.’

Fellow German football expert Heiko Niedderer, who has worked at BILD for 20 years covering the national team, says: ‘He’s one of the best offensive players we have had. We have the two of them, Musiala and Wirtz.

‘They are both pretty special but Wirtz is maybe even more complete now. He can do everything. He is really great on the ball, a great shooter, creating chances. He has developed really well.’

Rivals will sniff at the price tag but Liverpool have not got many bits of business wrong in the last decade. At 22, they think the German superstar is worth every penny despite risking such a big fee. Besides, they are already champions, what’s the Wirtz that can happen?

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

‘Alisha Lehmann, Dubbed the ‘World’s Sexiest Footballer,’ Unveils Stylish New Look as Euro 2025 Begins’

Alisha Lehmann has sported a new bespectacaled look as she prepares for the…

Lamine Yamal Joins Neymar for a Casual Game of Street Soccer During Brazil Visit

As Barcelona isn’t participating in the 2025 Club World Cup, their players…

Manchester City’s Club World Cup Woes: Sauna Sessions, Crosswords, and Rayan Cherki’s French Rap Lead to Al Hilal Disaster – What’s Next?

The beach yoga on Florida’s east coast wouldn’t have felt quite so…

Ellie Carpenter, Matildas Star, Faces WSL Competition From Her New Wife Weeks After Beautiful French Wedding

Matildas star Ellie Carpenter has signed for Chelsea on a four-year deal.…

Brighton Acquires Viral Belgian Left-Back After Champions League Success

Brighton have completed the signing of Maxim De Cuyper from Club Brugge.…

Kyle Walker bids an emotional farewell to Man City, expressing his gratitude despite feeling sidelined by the team. He departs to join Burnley in a surprising £5m move.

Kyle Walker has paid tribute to Manchester City after completing a £5m…

Behind the Scenes at Chelsea: The Historic Joao Pedro Deal, Levi Colwill’s Welcome Message, and the Enigma of Raheem Sterling

Chelsea’s acquisition of Joao Pedro will result in the Brazilian becoming Watford’s…

Club World Cup: Battling Extreme Heat with Sniffer Dogs in Crocs for Paw Protection

Last week, Chelsea and Flamengo clashed at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia…