Latest news with #BayerLeverkusen
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Germany star Wirtz flies to England for Liverpool medical
Germany's Florian Wirtz (L) and France's Manu Kone stand on the pitch after the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Germany and France at Stuttgart Arena. Federico Gambarini/dpa Germany star Florian Wirtz has flown to England to carry out his medical ahead of his big-money transfer to Liverpool, according to reports in German media. The Bild newspaper said a private plane took off from Cologne airport on Thursday afternoon to take the 22-year-old to Manchester, from where he will be driven to Liverpool to complete his signing from Bayer Leverkusen. Advertisement The deal for the young forward could be worth up to €150 million ($172 million) including bonuses, making Wirtz the most expensive signing in Bundesliga and Premier League history. Only Paris Saint-German's moves for Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have ever carried a higher transfer fee. Wirtz is expected to sign a contract with the Reds until 2030. The German international had been a major target for top European clubs, including Leverkusen's Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, but the attacking midfielder is set to land with the Premier League champions.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool pick out next transfer after Wirtz and Kerkez as £34m deal advanced
Arne Slot's Liverpool have already enjoyed a lucrative summer window and they have another big-money swoop in mind should one of their pending deals go through as expected Liverpool will make a move for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi as a replacement for Jarell Quansah - who is primed for Bayer Leverkusen. Erik ten Hag is a big fan of the Reds' academy graduate. The former Manchester United manager sees him as an ideal replacement for Jonathan Tah, with the German defender set to join Bayern Munich this summer. Liverpool are reluctant to sell Quansah this summer but it is thought that a bid of around 40m (£34m) could be enough to convince them to cash-in. And should they do that, Liverpool chiefs have already picked out his ideal replacement. The Merseysiders are long-term admirers of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. Liverpool have been monitoring developments over the England star's future with just one year remaining on his Selhurst Park deal. They could however face competition from Newcastle who have also been chasing Guehi over recent seasons. "I think the most important thing is just always doing the best that I can for this football club," the defender said about his future last year. "I come in every day and I try to be the same. "I try to work hard. And you know, this football club has given me a lot. I'm still under contract at this football club, so my focus is always at this football club. So, you know, for me, the most important is just doing the best I can and seeing where the future holds." Meanwhile, both chairman Steve Parish and manager Oliver Glasner have confirmed that Guehi is not actively looking to leave. Speaking in January, the latter said: 'If one is coming and says they want to leave and both clubs find an agreement, I think it will happen. But as long as a player doesn't come — and Marc didn't come — I am really not concerned he will leave. On Newcastle's failed pursuit last summer, Parish said: "Nobody has got to the valuation yet. If you want a superstar player you need to pay superstar money. "It's not near the point where we have to make a decision. We love having him and would love to keep him. If someone else wants to have him they need to make it really difficult for us. He's a generational talent." Guehi, 24, has been with Palace since his 2021 arrival from Chelsea. He has gone on to play 155 games for the club and played a crucial role as the Eagles won the FA Cup last season. Should Liverpool make a move, he would become the latest big-money addition to the squad this summer. Jeremie Frimpong has already been signed from Bayer Leverkusen, while Florian Wirtz is on the verge of joining him. Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez also looks likely to join the Premier League champions over the coming weeks.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen in active talks to sign Jarell Quansah
Bayer Leverkusen are negotiating with Liverpool to sign centre-back Jarell Quansah this summer, according to Sky Sports. Having sanctioned the sale of Florian Wirtz to the Reds for a record fee, the German giants are looking to acquire Quansah in a separate deal. Advertisement Leverkusen needs to strengthen its backline following the departure of Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich on a free transfer. With Odilon Kossounou completing his permanent move to Atalanta for €20 million, Die Werkself are planning to invest in a new centre-back in the transfer window. Quansah's future has been the subject of speculation due to the uncertainty over his role with the Reds. The English defender is behind Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the pecking order. The 22-year-old made 25 appearances in all competitions last season, proving to be a solid back-up for manager Arne Slot. Newcastle United have expressed interest in Quansah, and the Merseysiders are holding out for around £40 million for him. Advertisement Leverkusen have an edge in Quansah's pursuit due to their good relationship with the Reds, who have raided them for Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong this summer. The English centre-back would be a solid addition to Leverkusen's defensive options alongside Piero Hincapie and Edmond Tapsoba. Quansah will look to showcase his quality in the ongoing European U21 Championship. He needs to play regularly at the highest level to increase his chances of securing a place in The Three Lions' squad for the World Cup next year. Despite losing some key players, Leverkusen will look to sustain their success under new manager Erik ten Hag. They are keen on recruiting a top-quality attacking midfielder as Wirtz's replacement, with Nico Paz and Arda Guler topping their wishlist.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Florian Wirtz lands at Manchester Airport on private jet ahead of £116MILLION record-breaking switch to Liverpool - with move likely to be confirmed TOMORROW
Florian Wirtz has landed at Manchester Airport ahead of his British record £116million transfer to Liverpool. The German playmaker landed at 4.42pm on Thursday and is set to become Liverpool's second major signing of the summer window after they also scooped Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. The Anfield club are near to pulling off the transfer coup after beating Bayern Munich and Manchester City to the superstar. Wirtz is set to command a fee worth a staggering £116m, with a £100m base fee guaranteed. The combined fee will see the star become the most expensive British transfer in history, taking the honour from a midfielder once eyed by Liverpool - Chelsea 's Moises Caicedo. As per German outlets, Wirtz arrived at the airport in Cologne in a people carrier as he prepared to jet to England for his upcoming medical. Hier landet Florian #Wirtz um 16:42 Uhr englischer Zeit in Manchester, um noch heute Abend im benachbarten Liverpool seinen Medizincheck zu starten! @SkySportDE ist für euch vor Ort! @SkySportsPL #LFC #B04 — Marlon Irlbacher (@Sky_Marlon89) June 19, 2025 According to Sky Sports Germany , the medical is set to take place in part on Thursday afternoon, with further details confirmed on Friday. Data tracking the Bayer Leverkusen star's plane shows that he is on a flight bound for Manchester Airport, and is set to arrive shortly before 5pm. Reports on Wednesday suggested that Wirtz's parents, Hans and Karin, are set for a bumper payday after having played a role in negotiating his five-year contract. Wirtz's parents are reportedly going to receive a hefty commission totalling around £8.6m (€10m), after taking the reins in talks rather than negotiating via an agency. When in England, Wirtz will link up with Liverpool's first transfer of the summer, his former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong. Wirtz and Frimpong - who completed his own £29.5m transfer to Liverpool earlier this month - shared a photo of themselves on a boat soaking up the sun off the coast of Montenegro earlier this week. They are set to be linking up on the pitch soon after enjoying plenty of success together in Germany. The duo won a domestic double under Xabi Alonso in 2023-24, before adding the German Super Cup to their collection last season. Alonso has now moved on to manage Real Madrid, while Frimpong is settling into life at Liverpool. Wirtz will see an immediate familiar face at the training ground in pre-season in former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong Wirtz will be by his side shortly, barring any unforeseen setbacks, and has his parents to thank for securing his switch to Merseyside. They were made to work for their commission as well, with Leverkusen initially playing hardball when Liverpool first made their approach for Wirtz. Liverpool had bids of around £100m and £110m knocked back, but eventually reached an agreement with the Bundesliga side. The Premier League champions are also eyeing a deal to sign Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez. The defender's father - and agent - Sebastijan has claimed that a move is a 'done deal', despite the Cherries driving a hard bargain at the negotiating table. Bournemouth are believed to be holding out for £45m, but Sebastijan was adamant that save for a few minor details, his son will head to Anfield. 'It's only Liverpool for us and we're not going anywhere else and we won't talk to other clubs,' sadi Sebastijan. 'Everything is done between us (personal terms) we just need to sort out some details but it's basically a done deal.'
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Bayer Leverkusen close to Jarell Quansah agreement with Liverpool
Bayer Leverkusen are close to reaching an agreement with Liverpool for defender Jarell Quansah. Though no formal bid has yet been made, talks are progressing for a deal being done for just north of €40million (£34m; $45.8m) and personal terms are not anticipated to be an issue. The Athletic reported on June 11 that Leverkusen were considering a move for Quansah following the departure of Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich, while Odilon Kossounou is not expected to return the club following his season-long loan at Atalanta, with the deal including an option to make the move permanent. Advertisement Liverpool have already been in talks with Leverkusen to sign midfielder Florian Wirtz, who is set for a medical with the English side later this week, and after triggering the release clause of full-back Jeremie Frimpong, whose arrival was announced last month. Quansah is away with the England Under-21s at the European Championship in Slovakia and spoke about his development ahead of Sunday's goalless draw with Slovenia. 'I think I can take massive learnings from the three seasons I've had in professional football,' the 22-year-old said. 'From Bristol Rovers (on loan in 2023) until now, to put perspective and look back, I'm in a very good position to take the next step. It comes with working hard and staying focused on what I can control.' If completed, a deal for Quansah would represent a record transfer fee for Leverkusen, exceeding the €32m (£27.1m; $36.7m) paid to Hoffenheim for the signing of Kerem Demirbay in 2019. Liverpool had previously not been looking to sell Quansah and rejected an approach for the defender from Newcastle United last summer. A product of Liverpool's academy, Quansah spent the second half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Bristol Rovers before making his debut for Liverpool in August 2023. He went to enjoy a breakout campaign, replacing Ibrahima Konate as regular in the heart of defence alongside Virgil van Dijk. He made 25 appearances in all competitions last season but saw his game time drastically reduced, only starting five matches in the Premier League as Liverpool won the title in head coach Arne Slot's first season at the club. Quansah has played 55 games for Liverpool in total, scoring three times and providing three assists. He has been capped 11 times by England at under-21 level but is yet to feature for the senior team, though he was called up to Thomas Tuchel's first squad for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Advertisement Analysis by Liverpool correspondent Gregg Evans Moving to a club like Leverkusen, who will be playing in the Champions League next year and chasing domestic honours, is a good switch for Quansah. The centre-back is desperate to feature regularly after struggling for game time last season and he should get that opportunity in Germany. Leverkusen are known for giving youngsters the opportunity to realise their full potential and Quansah is a player bursting with talent. After getting a taste of top-flight football at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, he was focused on kicking on, but last season felt like a setback as he was forced to watch most of the campaign from the sidelines. His aim in 2025-26 is to get more minutes and give himself a chance of making the England squad for the World Cup next summer. If he moves, Liverpool will look for a replacement and have a short list of options. With Konate still in talks over a new contract and Van Dijk only extending his deal late into last season, Liverpool have been carefully considering centre-backs for some time. ()
