Bayer Leverkusen director reveals how Liverpool won Florian Wirtz race

A Bayer Leverkusen director has explained how Liverpool won the race to sign Florian Wirtz in a record-breaking deal.

German Wirtz became the Reds’ second signing of the summer transfer window when he put pen to paper on a deal back on June 20 in a move that could rise to up to £116million.

That would surpass the current British transfer record, which is held by Chelsea from when they signed Moises Caicedo from Brighton for £115m two years ago. Liverpool, though, were prepared to splash the cash to get their man.

The deal was completed after a saga that lasted a number of weeks, with sporting director Richard Hughes leading discussions with Leverkusen and Arne Slot selling Wirtz a vision of playing as an attacking midfielder.

Now, though, fans have been given an insight into the deal from Leverkusen’s point of view, with the German side holding out for their valuation before completing a deal.

Speaking to BILD, sporting director Simon Rolfes detailed how Liverpool beat Manchester City and Bayern Munich to the 22-year-old’s signature.

‘Florian’s requirement was that everyone be comfortable with the move,’ he said. ‘He told us, literally, that he hoped Bayer 04 would also be happy with the result.

‘There wasn’t a single moment (where we realised he wanted to leave), but rather a development. Our goal was to extend Florian’s contract and keep him for at least another year. Gradually, we sensed that he was more interested in making a move. 

‘Starting in February and March, the discussions focused more on other clubs and other leagues. We always knew what he thought. We knew from the parents who they were talking to. The clubs from abroad also informed us, and they handled the matter in a highly professional and serious manner.

‘In May, he told us that he had decided to join Liverpool. I believe he’s a very good fit for Liverpool. The club has treated him very seriously. Florian was made to understand that they know exactly why they want him. This approach was a very important aspect of the overall package for him

‘All the clubs that had contacted us in advance were clear about the region in which the transfer would take place. We only negotiated with Liverpool after Florian told us that was his preferred club. It was clear to me from the beginning of the negotiations that it would work out. Of course, everyone is fighting for their position, but it was always respectful.

‘The people at both clubs know each other so well that a face-to-face meeting was not necessary. We handled the transaction over the phone, via email, and via video conference.’

Heartbroken Liverpool players have, meanwhile, been sharing their tributes and memories of Diogo Jota after his death in a car accident at 28.

Jota had been travelling in a car with his brother Andre, 26, who was also a footballer, when the vehicle went off road and the tragic news comes just two weeks after Jota married his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso in Porto.

The tyre of his Lamborghini, reportedly a £150,000 Urus SUV, is said to have blown out while overtaking on the A-52 at Cernadilla near Zamora in northwestern Spain, close to the border with Portugal.

The supercar came off the road, rolled and then burst into flames at around 12.35am, also igniting the surrounding vegetation.

The emergency services were called but the brothers could not be saved.

Darwin Nunez was the first of the Liverpool players to post, sharing a picture of him and Jota celebrating a goal at Anfield.

The Uruguayan wrote: ‘There are no words to comfort you for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good teammate on and off the field.

‘I send all my strength to your family, from where I am sure he will always be with you, especially your wife and three children. RIP Diogo and Andre.’

Luis Diaz added a post to his Instagram story, with Jota holding up the shirt with Diaz on the back at the time the Colombian’s father had been kidnapped.