Florian Wirtz’s medical delay explained as Liverpool finally agree record transfer

Liverpool’s rivals for Florian Wirtz have all fallen by the wayside but the Premier League champions have yet to announce the signing of the Bayer Leverkusen star

Florian Wirtz will join Liverpool this summer – but fans are still being made to wait for an official announcement. Wirtz’s former Bayer Leverkusen colleague Jeremie Frimpong has completed his move to Anfield, but the German international remains in his home country for the time being.

The Reds are ready to break the bank for the Germany international, who starred in Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga season in 2023-24. The eventual fee, including add-ons, will be a new Premier League record of £116million.

Leverkusen had attempted to play hardball on the fee, but Wirtz is set to begin the 2025-26 season as a Liverpool player – and for less than the £125m initially demanded by the selling club. However, it is understood that the delay is down to the playmaker currently being on holiday.

The next formal steps are expected to take place upon Wirtz’s return, after which we could see things speed up. The Reds have not been in as much of a rush as some of their Premier League rivals to get a deal over the line, as they are not involved in the Club World Cup.

Wirtz is poised to become Arne Slot’s third new addition this summer. Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili have already completed moves, while Liverpool have helped fund some of their summer spending by selling Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford.

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool AGREE record Wirtz deal, Arsenal’s Williams blow, Man Utd latestREAD MORE: Bayern Munich explain exactly why Liverpool won Florian Wirtz race as ‘medical scheduled’

Liverpool’s situation differs to that of Club World Cup competitors Chelsea and Manchester City. Both of those clubs made full use of the extra transfer window at the start of June, which was introduced to help teams bolster their squad for the tournament in the United States.

Chelsea have added to their ranks for the Club World Cup, with Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr all part of their squad, though Estevao Willian won’t join until after the tournament. Manchester City have also significantly strengthened, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri have all arrived, while keeper Marcus Bettinelli has joined from Chelsea to replace the outgoing Scott Carson.

Wirtz isn’t the only Bundesliga star on Liverpool’s radar this summer. A deal for Hugo Ekitike is far less of a certainty, though, with Eintracht Frankfurt chief Markus Krosche standing firm on the £85m-rated striker.

“If the price isn’t right, then he’ll just stay with us. We don’t have to sell Hugo,” Krosche told German media on the subject of the former Paris Saint-Germain striker, who is also of interest to Chelsea.

Chelsea were unable to land the Frenchman in time for their Club World Cup campaign, with the mini transfer window for the tournament shutting on June 10. The summer window will open in earnest on Monday, giving Premier League clubs two months to bolster their squads ahead of the first round of fixtures.

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