Liverpool has reached a historic agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to acquire Florian Wirtz, a highly sought-after German international. The Premier League champions will pay a guaranteed £100m for the midfielder, with potential add-ons totaling £16m, potentially making Wirtz the most expensive British transfer ever.

The negotiations, led by Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes, concluded on Friday morning after weeks of discussions. Leverkusen initially demanded €150m for the 22-year-old, who had attracted interest from top clubs like Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid. However, Wirtz expressed his preference for Anfield, prompting Leverkusen to agree to the deal. The player is set to undergo a medical soon and finalize the transfer when the window reopens next week, having already agreed to personal terms.

While Liverpool refused to meet Leverkusen's initial asking price, they settled on a guaranteed £100m with additional add-ons. If Wirtz achieves sustained success, these add-ons could see him become the most expensive British signing ever, surpassing Chelsea's acquisition of Moises Caicedo for £115m.

This record-breaking deal represents a significant investment for Liverpool, exceeding their previous transfer record set at £85m for Darwin Núñez in 2022. The club aims to offset this expense by selling Núñez, who has attracted interest from various clubs.

Liverpool's ability to fund the Wirtz deal is attributed to their conservative spending in recent transfer windows. The club's faith in their existing squad, built under Jürgen Klopp, has paid off with a record-equalling 20th league title under new head coach Arne Slot.

Wirtz is viewed as a world-class talent with transformative potential by Liverpool, aligning with the club's strategy of making marquee signings like Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk. This move does not signify a shift in transfer policy by owners Fenway Sports Group.

City's withdrawal from the Wirtz deal due to cost concerns allowed Liverpool to secure the player's services. The club is also in talks with Bournemouth for left-back Milos Kerkez, valued at £45m. Liverpool has already signed Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili, with further outgoings expected in their summer revamp.

In a related development, Giovanni van Bronckhorst is set to join Arne Slot's coaching staff, replacing John Heitinga. The former Arsenal midfielder and Rangers manager brings extensive experience to Liverpool, having previously coached at Feyenoord, Guangzhou in the Chinese Super League, and Rangers.