Liverpool have received a significant boost in the race to sign mercurial talent Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen with the news that Manchester City are pulling out the race.
The last week or so has been ablaze with breaking news and transfer rumours with Liverpool right at the thick of it.
A deal to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen is very close to being made official while Liverpool are also working on quickly completing a deal to sign Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.
Liverpool, however, may make the most of their conversations with Bayer and get their foot in the door over a move to sign Wirtz.
Latest on massive transfer battle to sign Florian Wirtz
According to BBC correspondent Sami Mokbel, “Pep Guardiola’s side are withdrawing their initial interest in the German international owing to the soaring costs of any deal.
“It is estimated that an agreement to sign the 22-year-old would represent the biggest deal in City’s history, potentially reaching as much as 300m euros inclusive of transfer fees and wages.”
Liverpool are mentioned in the report as being interested while Bayern Munich have been chasing him for a couple years now.
Florian Plettenberg reports via X that Wirtz “is the desired target – and they’re not willing to give up on him.”
?? Plans at Liverpool are in full swing. The current priorities are finding a centre-back, a left-back, a playmaker/No. 10, and a winger. #LFC
LB: Milos #Kerkez is currently the top priority. Jorrel #Hato is on the shortlist.
No. 10: Florian #Wirtz is the desired target – and… pic.twitter.com/DwGuyJ0YY5
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 19, 2025
However, City are not involved anymore.
Mokbel continues: “In the past, City have have shown they are prepared to walk away from transfers if they believe a deal does not represent value for money.
“The decision to withdraw from the race to land Wirtz should also be viewed as a commitment to Phil Foden’s role in Guardiola’s plans.
“Foden has long been seen as the long-term heir to outgoing creator De Bruyne and the addition of Wirtz may have put the Englishman’s place in Guardiola’s plans in question.
“But, as things stand, Wirtz is not expected to arrive. City will remain in the market for a new creative midfielder – with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White among the options.”
Signing Wirtz would be one of the most exciting signing Arne Slot could possibly make this summer
There has been a lot of talk of Liverpool making a move for a striker like Alexander Isak but if they moved for Wirtz, it would be just as good if not better for the overall harmony of the starting XI.
This season, Wirtz has scored 16 goals while also laying on another 15 for his teammates. 31 goal contributions while playing as an attacking midifelder is astonishing.
