Club turned down opportunity to sign £50m Liverpool star
The message coming out of Anfield is clear: Liverpool want Florian Wirtz. Badly. But not at the cost of Harvey Elliott.
According to Sky Sports Germany, the Merseyside club's pursuit of the Bayer Leverkusen star has entered an aggressive new phase. A second bid worth up to £112 million has been submitted, combining a £100 million base with add-ons. Yet, in a window already promising upheaval under Arne Slot, the Reds have drawn the line when it comes to sacrificing one of their brightest homegrown assets.
Wirtz viewed as missing piece
Florian Wirtz has become the poster boy for modern German talent—vision, technique, and a Champions League-ready mentality all wrapped in one. Six goals and nine games in Europe's top competition last season, five Man of the Match awards, and 31 goal contributions across all competitions paint the picture of a player ready for the Premier League spotlight.
Photo: IMAGO
Liverpool's motivation is no mystery. The club has long searched for a natural creative spark since Philippe Coutinho departed and Wirtz, at just 22, could be the long-term solution to the question: who carries the creative burden beyond Alexander-Arnold?
Elliott off the table, Quansah under discussion
Harvey Elliott, once linked as a potential makeweight in the Wirtz deal, is now categorically out of the equation. As Sky Sports Germany confirm, Bayer Leverkusen 'no longer consider Elliott an option.' It's a stance that speaks volumes about how highly Liverpool value the 22-year-old, who made 53 appearances last season and delivered quietly influential performances.
Photo: IMAGO
Quansah, however, remains under consideration. The defender, who broke into Liverpool's first team in 2023 and was named in England's provisional Euro 2024 squad, may still be part of the package. His minutes dropped last season, mostly coming off the bench, and his inclusion could be a pragmatic decision rather than a purely emotional one.
Photo: IMAGO
Deal far from done
Despite Liverpool's aggressive financial approach, Leverkusen have rejected the latest offer. The Germans are holding firm, and with no urgency to sell, they are making sure any departure matches their valuation, not just in money, but in value.
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And so the tug-of-war continues. Liverpool are in for a player they believe can shape the post-Klopp era, but they're not going to dismantle their youthful core to do it.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
For the Liverpool faithful, the Wirtz pursuit ticks every box. Young, elite, proven in Europe and playing like someone who grew up with Gerd Müller posters on his wall. Wirtz has the kind of vision and guile that this team has lacked when Trent is played deeper or wider.
But there's relief, too, in hearing Harvey Elliott won't be part of any deal. The lad has shown up when it matters—whether it was a late goal in Europe or an assist in a cup final. He's not been a regular starter, sure, but those moments matter. He matters.
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Quansah's inclusion is harder to accept. He's not Virgil van Dijk, but few 21-year-old centre-backs can claim such calm under pressure. If there's a price to pay for Wirtz, many would rather see a financial one, not a loss of potential from within.
Liverpool are finally acting like a big club again—aggressive, ambitious. Let's just hope they don't forget that sometimes the gold is already in your backyard.
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