Liverpool increases offer for Wirtz as Arsenal step up talks to sign £70m Slovenian striker Sesko
Liverpool have tabled a new record £113 million offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as the Premier League champions aim to issue a major statement of intent.
Wirtz is pushing for a move to Liverpool, and the revised agreement will guarantee Leverkusen £100 million with an additional £13 million in add-ons.
Arne Slot, the Liverpool manager, is determined to capture the Germany international and while the third bid for Wirtz represents less than the €150 million (£126 million) Leverkusen have demanded, it still represents a huge offer from the Merseyside club.
Negotiations are expected to continue over the weekend but, as it stands, Liverpool are unwilling to meet Leverkusen’s full asking price. Wirtz is keen to move to Liverpool and is currently on international duty with Germany.
Earlier this week, Wirtz responded to a report from broadcaster Sky Germany on Tuesday that he would like to keep wearing No. 10 if he moves to Anfield. That number was worn this season by Alexis Mac Allister, a World Cup winner with Argentina, and is a shirt with a rich heritage at Liverpool. Previous players to wear the No. 10 include club greats John Barnes, Michael Owen, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mané.
“Who says I want the 10?” Wirtz wrote on Instagram late on Tuesday. “I respect players. Don’t believe everything that’s written,” he added with a clown emoji.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have stepped up talks with Red Bull Leipzig for striker Benjamin Sesko.
The Gunners are working to get a deal done at around £70million for the Slovenian but are yet to bid.
Sesko, who scored 21 goals and registered six assists in all competitions last season, including four in the Champions League, wants the move.
The Gunners previously had offers for Sesko rejected in May last year and during the most recent January transfer window.
The north Londoners had looked to bolster their forward options in January and put in offers for Sesko and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, both of which were rejected.
Mikel Arteta was left short in the final third of the pitch for the second half of the season when Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both suffered serious injuries in January and February, respectively.
They were also without Bukayo Saka for much of the 2024-25 campaign, after he suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery just before Christmas, while winger Gabriel Martinelli was also absent at various points.
As a result, they were forced to play with Mikel Merino, traditionally a central midfield player, as an emergency forward.
While Merino did put up impressive numbers in his unfamiliar role, scoring nine goals and contributing five assists, a lack of depth in attack ultimately saw Arsenal fade away in the title race.
Arsenal also want Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, though he is assessing all options.
