Florian Wirtz’s £116m move to Liverpool will be made official this week as attention turns to move for Bournemouth’s Hungarian left back Milos Kerkez
The transfer window has reopened and that means Liverpool are closer to confirming the potential British record signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
Germany star Wirtz has agreed personal terms after the clubs shook hands on a £116m deal that includes £100m upfront with the 22-year-old’s switch will be made official at some point this week.
And while lots of attention shifts to the controversial Club World Cup, with Chelsea and Manchester City the Premier League ’s two representatives, Liverpool ’s recruitment is also making noises across the United States.
Here are the big stories to keep an eye on from in and around Anfield as the transfer window nudges back open.
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Bayern bemused
Wirtz had briefly been tipped to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and after they lost Leroy Sane, to Galatasaray, and veteran Thomas Muller, at the end of his contract, there is bafflement that Vincent Kompany’s squad has been left so short of attacking options.
And Joshua Kimmich has added to that when he was asked about Wirtz heading to Anfield before Bayern got their Club World Cup campaign underway against Auckland City on Sunday evening.
“You’ll have to ask the club what their plans are,” he said. “Of course, you have the feeling that we could do something – with Flo (Wirtz) not coming, with Leroy leaving, with Thomas leaving.
“I was surprised that (Sane) is going to Turkey. I didn’t expect that. But it’s his decision and he’ll have his reasons for it.”
Kerkez deal
Once the Wirtz deal is confirmed, Milos Kerkez is expected to seal a move from Bournemouth to Merseyside – placing Andrew Robertson’s future in doubt amid interest from Atletico Madrid.
But Kerkez’s Hungary team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai has been tight-lipped when asked about it in an interview with Nemzeti Sport. “I don’t know about him…for now,” the midfielder said.
Robertson, meanwhile, insists he is happy and fighting fit – despite a season where he found it hard work to hit top form.
Window reopens
Since midnight the window has been nudged back open following a six-day hiatus as a consequence of the Club World Cup.
It will now run for a dozen weeks to September 1 – and did you know that the window slams shut on deadline day at the earlier time of 5pm to ensure club staff and agents can get to bed at a reasonable hour?
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