June 23 – German international Florian Wirtz has completed his move to Premier League Champions Liverpool in a £100 million deal with Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, which could rise to a British record £116 million if a series of add-ons are met.
The 22-year-old passed his medical on Friday and was announced via a cheeky nod to his holiday with Liverpool-bound teammate Jeremie Frimpong, picturing a bucket hat and shades that will have looked very familiar to keen-eyed fans.
The move completes an ambitious double swoop for the former Bayer Leverkusen duo, with Frimpong already announced at the start of the window in a £29 million deal.
The Reds business is far from complete as they continue to move aggressively in the transfer window. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is on the verge of joining as the Premier League Champions look to cross £200 million of spending before June is over. The Hungarian has his medical booked for this afternoon at the AXA centre, having reportedly agreed a five year contract once his £40 million move is finalised.
The trio will join Georgian international goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and Hungarian backup keeper Armin Pecsi on the club’s growing roster of incomings this summer.
To fund further delves into the transfer market, Liverpool will need to put a few of their players in the shop window. Young talent Jarell Quansah will head in the other direction to Leverkusen for £35 million, though the deal includes a buyback clause of an undisclosed figure.
Liverpool have upped their interest in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, whose contract expires next summer. The England international, who impressed in last summer’s Euros, was available for £70 million in January but Liverpool opted to be patient – a decision which looks set to pay off as they eye a £35 million swoop for the player.
There were also reports linking the club to yet another £100m+ transfer, this time for Newcastle forward Alexander Isak. That rumour seems to have lost a bit of pace, though, with the club needing to trim its rapidly-growing squad before any more market activity can commence.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1750698930labto1750698930ofdlr1750698930owedi1750698930sni@g1750698930niwe.1750698930yrrah1750698930