Liverpool make improved bid for Florian Wirtz

Liverpool have made an improved £113million offer to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz, talkSPORT understands.

And the Premier League champions are hopeful of reaching an agreement, that’s despite already seeing a £109m bid rejected.

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The Bundesliga club were believed to be demanding £126m, which would smash the British transfer record.

That is currently held by Chelsea who paid around £115m for Moises Caicedo in 2023.

The Reds recently launched the £109m offer to bring the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker to Anfield.

Personal terms have already been agreed between both parties, with the 22-year-old only having eyes on a switch to Merseyside.

The Germany international’s preference has seen Manchester City and Bayern Munich accept defeat in their pursuit, with only Liverpool at the table to secure his services.

While there is a willingness from Leverkusen to sell Wirtz early in the window, they would be open for two Liverpool stars to be included in any future offer.

And the two that have been identified are attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott, as well as centre-back Jarell Quansah.

Both men have spent their Liverpool careers so far as back-ups, with Elliott making just 18 Premier League appearances for the champions in the 2024/25 season – starting just twice in the top-flight.

As for academy graduate Quansah, he mustered up just 13 outings in the top-flight, with four of his appearances coming in Arne Slot‘s starting XI.

talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook provided an update on Liverpool’s quest to sign Wirtz on The Sports Breakfast show on Monday morning.

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He said: “Liverpool have made their initial offer, we understand in excess of £109m.

“It is not quite a British record fee, which is what Leverkusen were asking for.

“When Bayern Munich were at the negotiating table, the price was £126m.

“The interesting element here is the potential of Liverpool players heading in the opposite direction.

“Bayer Leverkusen are big fans of Harvey Elliott in particular, who is a player Liverpool would be willing to sell for the right price this summer.

“The other man who could move in the opposite direction is Jarell Quansah.

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“Liverpool trying to get their business done early.”

The Reds have already wrapped up the signature of Wirtz’s ex-Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong after activating his £29.5m release clause.

Slot’s side moved fast to sign the Dutch full-back after losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, they are also readying a move for Bournemouth’s £45m-rated left-back Milos Kerkez.

And they could also make a move for Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon should they part ways with Luis Diaz this summer to either Barcelona or Al Nassr.

While Diaz is facing an uncertain future, back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has left the club after 67 appearances spread across six campaigns.

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Brentford have completed an £18m deal to sign him as a replacement for the departing Mark Flekken, who is on his way to Leverkusen.

The has made one club very happy with Ringmahon Rangers bagging a sell-on fee potentially worth around £2m.

And club secretary Sean Fitzgerald exclusively told talkSPORT.com: “There’s money being trashed around everywhere. There’s figures being thrown out. Jesus Christ, we’re buying all sorts.

“No one knows what we’re getting yet because we still don’t know the deal between Liverpool and Brentford. We’re not going to know that for a while. We’re the least of Liverpool’s worries now at the moment because they’re still trying to sign players.

“When it does happen, when it does come, we have massive facilities as it is. We’ve great facilities here, but our next plan will be a full-size Astro pitch.

“After that, the money will just be put in the bank, and it’s going to be there for the next 100 years for the club.

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“It’ll be there for my kids. It’ll be there for their kids. It’ll be there for the kids after. It’s life-changing money for us, especially for a club of our size, for our community, and for where we live.”