Liverpool’s blockbuster club-record transfer for Florian Wirtz could be delayed by this month’s international football. A £109million deal is expected to be agreed for the German to join the Premier League club.
Wirtz is understood to be close to becoming a Liverpool player over the coming weeks. He will join his former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield, with the right-back’s own arrival announced last week. The 22-year-old is next on the Reds’ agenda and an agreement with Leverkusen could be closed soon. However, it could yet be a little while before he is formally confirmed as a Liverpool player.
Currently with the German national team, Wirtz will take part in the Nations League finals. Germany face Portugal in the semi-final on Wednesday.
They will then play in either the final or the third-place play-off on June 8. Spain meet France in the other semi-final.
Wirtz will be determined to have his full focus on winning his first trophy with his country. It means he may not be available to undergo a medical until after the Nations League ends. Other formalities, such as promotional material, could be put on the back burner.
It is unlikely that Germany’s games will have any further impact on the deal. Wirtz is widely expected to become a Liverpool player as part of a busy summer of business.
Despite winning the Premier League, the Merseysiders will make a number of additions to their squad. Left-back is another priority, with Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez strongly linked. A new centre-forward could also be of benefit to Slot.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, which brought the Premier League season to a close, Slot said he expected some signings to be made. He urged Liverpool to keep up with Manchester City, who will spend big to refresh Pep Guardiola’s squad.
“I think we can find one or two extra weapons this team doesn’t have,” Slot said. “Maybe, maybe, by using the transfer market. That is what we are trying to achieve. That will make us only stronger. That is what we need because we saw City spending £200m in the [January] transfer window. All of them will. Apart from the transfer window, we can also improve certain aspects ourselves.”
