Liverpool step up bid to land Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz reports

LONDON – Liverpool have made an improved £109 million (S$189 million) bid to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to reports on May 30.

The English Premier League champions’ second offer for Wirtz includes add-on clauses that would make him the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Wirtz has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but it is believed that he made it clear to Leverkusen that he wants to join Liverpool before next season.

Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said earlier in the week Liverpool had “concrete interest” in Wirtz.

The German club’s chief executive Fernando Carro had previously insisted that he would not let his player leave for less than £125 million.

The 22-year-old emerged as one of the most highly-rated young playmakers in Europe after helping Leverkusen win their first Bundesliga crown in 2023-24, together with the German Cup.

He was named Bundesliga Player of the Season for his role in that triumph.

He featured in 31 Bundesliga matches this season, scoring 10 goals as Leverkusen finished second behind Bayern in the title race.

Wirtz has scored 57 goals in 197 games since making his Leverkusen debut aged just 17 after signing from Cologne in 2020.

The news came as Liverpool announced their signing of defender Jeremie Frimpong, Wirtz’s Leverkusen teammate, on a long-term contract.

Financial details were not disclosed by either club, but British media reported Liverpool triggered a €35 million (S$51 million) release clause for the Dutch international, whose deal with Leverkusen was valid until 2028.

The transfer was announced hours after Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid from Liverpool on a six-year deal, with Frimpong set to replace the England defender as he becomes manager Arne Slot’s first signing after they won the Premier League title.

“It went quite easy,”