Wirtz to Liverpool gathering pace as Leverkusen confirm interest | OneFootball

Liverpool Push Hard for Florian Wirtz in High-Stakes Summer Transfer Race

Rising Star Targeted by Anfield Hierarchy

Liverpool’s summer transfer ambitions appear to be shifting into overdrive, with Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz emerging as a concrete target. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, long-touted as one of Europe’s brightest young talents, now seems increasingly open to a move away from the Bundesliga, according to Sky Sports News.

Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes addressed the speculation during a press conference introducing Erik ten Hag as the club’s new manager. “There is concrete interest from Liverpool, but there’s no more to say right now. Florian is our player.”

This open confirmation marks a significant change in tone, reflecting the seriousness of Liverpool’s approach as they build for life under Arne Slot.

Liverpool FC v Crystal Palace FC – Premier League Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates with the Premier Trophy during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, on May 25, 2025. Liverpool Merseyside United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMIxNewsx originalFilename:fletcher-liverpoo250525_npKR3.jpg

Negotiations Accelerate Between Clubs

Sky in Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg added further weight to the story, claiming: “Negotiations between Liverpool and Leverkusen over Wirtz are progressing positively and at full speed.” According to Plettenberg, Wirtz is “waiting for the green light for a medical” – suggesting the formalities of a move are nearing.

Should Wirtz complete a switch to Merseyside, he would follow a growing trend of Bundesliga talent seeking Premier League exposure, and his arrival could inject fresh dynamism into Slot’s midfield plans.

Frimpong Also in the Frame

While Wirtz dominates headlines, Liverpool are reportedly also advancing talks with Leverkusen’s right-back Jeremie Frimpong, further underlining the club’s intentions to act decisively in this window. Chairman Tom Werner confirmed, “It’s already busy,” and added: “We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season.”

Photo: IMAGO

Those words will resonate with fans eager to see sustained evolution, not just sentiment, after Klopp’s departure.

Tactical Fit and Ambition Align

Wirtz’s creativity, vision and final-third intelligence make him an ideal Slot-style player. With Liverpool seeking to refresh key areas, his arrival would signal a serious commitment to both immediate success and long-term squad building. His ability to operate between the lines and link midfield to attack is something Liverpool have arguably lacked since the prime of Philippe Coutinho.

Our View – EPL Index

This is exactly the kind of transfer business Liverpool need to be doing. Florian Wirtz isn’t just a flashy name or a flavour-of-the-month talent. He’s been performing consistently in a high-pressure environment under Xabi Alonso and now looks ready for the next step. His ability to unlock low blocks, dictate tempo and score goals from midfield could transform Liverpool’s approach in tight games.

The fact that Simon Rolfes has publicly admitted Liverpool’s interest shows there’s serious movement behind the scenes. Usually, when clubs go on record, it’s only a matter of time. And if reports about a medical being prepared are true, we could be looking at Liverpool’s marquee signing of the summer.

Also, Jeremie Frimpong? Yes, please. He’d bring raw pace, attacking threat and positional flexibility. Pair that with Wirtz and you’re not just building a team for this season, but setting the tone for a new era under Arne Slot.

We’ve been calling for ambition. This is it. No more near-misses or bargain-basement punts. Let’s get Wirtz in a red shirt and make a statement to City, Arsenal and the rest: we’re not backing down.