Liverpool are reported to have held talks with the representatives of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz during a surprise trip to England earlier this week.
Wirtz’s father was seen returning from a visit to Blackpool, and it was initially revealed that he had engaged in discussions with Manchester City, who are currently rivaling Bayern Munich for the German international’s signature.
However, according to kicker, the trip also included a meeting with Liverpool officials.
The Reds used the opportunity to express their interest in signing the 22-year-old, who was also part of the travelling party.
BILD reports that the Wirtz camp spent around an hour in Blackpool, where they held informal talks with Liverpool officials, before taking a short flight to Manchester for further discussions with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City are understood to have formally contacted Leverkusen to request permission to speak with Wirtz.
The Premier League champions view him as an ideal replacement for the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne.
However, they are likely to face stiff competition and a hefty price tag, with Leverkusen expected to demand close to €150million (£126.5million).
Further insight from The Athletic suggests that Liverpool’s approach was more exploratory than City’s – an informal conversation that served as a clear signal of interest rather than the beginning of concrete negotiations.
Wirtz’s future remains uncertain.
Bayern Munich are reportedly confident of securing a deal, while Liverpool may have simply made it known that the door to Anfield would be open should he decide to leave the Bundesliga.
Both Guardiola and new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot are said to be huge admirers of Wirtz, who has enjoyed a stellar campaign with 16 goals and 15 assists across all competitions for Leverkusen this season.
While Leverkusen have not given up hope of keeping their star midfielder, Wirtz has recently hinted at a willingness to embrace a new challenge in order to further his career.
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