Florian Wirtz is Liverpool’s top target for the summer transfer window, but the Reds’ negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen are stumbling with the Bundesliga side rejecting another bid
Liverpool’s summer transfer window is gathering pace, with the Reds securing their second signing on Saturday. That came in the form of Puskas Akademia keeper Armin Pecsi, in what is a club-record sale for the Hungarian side.
Now, their full attention is turning back to the marquee targets of Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez. Liverpool chiefs are struggling to agree a fee with Bayer Leverkusen for Wirtz, with the German side holding out for £126.4million.
Writz is keen to move to Merseyside and Leverkusen are ready to sell to avoid him going into the final year of his contract next summer. A deal is expected to be agreed, though a fresh stumbling block has been hit in negotiations.
That comes as star attacker Cody Gakpo rejected a move to Bayern Munich, insisting he has no intention of leaving Liverpool this summer. Meanwhile Arne Slot’s former assistant boss at Anfield is set to raid his former club for a new signing.
It all stacks up to create a far busier summer window than last year, when Liverpool made just one senior signing. Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest Reds transfer news.
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Leverkusen reject Wirtz bid
Bayer Leverkusen have rejected Liverpool’s latest bid for Florian Wirtz. The Reds submitted an improved £113million offer for the attacker on Friday, with £100m of that fee guaranteed.
But according to The Times, Leverkusen have opted to reject that bid as they push for a higher package. Negotiations are continuing and it is still widely expected that the 22-year-old will move to Anfield.
Leverkusen expect another bid from the Premier League champions to be ‘forthcoming’, with the player keen to move. The Bundesliga side have slapped a £126.4m price tag on his head, but Liverpool are reluctant to bid that high.
Heitinga to raid Reds
Former Liverpool assistant boss John Heitinga is set to raid the Reds for a new goalkeeper. Heitinga spent last season as one of Arne Slot’s key lieutenants before being appointed Ajax manager earlier this summer.
According to Voetbal International, Heitinga has set his sights on Reds keeper Vitezslav Jaros. Ajax are set to take the 23-year-old on loan for the upcoming season, though talks are ongoing about exactly what the deal will look like.
There is also an offer from Lille, though Ajax are ready to offer the Czech star regular first-team football. The Dutch side have several alternative options, though it appears that Jaros is now their top target.
Gakpo turns down exit
Cody Gakpo has insisted he has no intention of leaving Liverpool after being linked with a move to Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old starred as the Reds won the Premier League title, scoring 10 goals as he became a key player for Arne Slot.
While he is highly valued by Slot and has three years remaining on his contract, Gakpo has been linked with a blockbuster move to Bayern. The Bundesliga giants are searching for a new winger after Leroy Sane’s exit, though Gakpo has denied he will be moving on.
“I haven’t heard anything about it myself. I’m closing myself off from it,” he said while on international duty with the Netherlands. “Maybe my agent has heard something, but I’m focusing on myself.”
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