Florian Wirtz deal forces Premier League rivals into WILD response

Florian Wirtz to Liverpool is going to be a game-changer. The Reds will pay a club-record and British record sum for the playmaker - who looks set to cost £116m if all bonuses and add-ons are achieved.

Arne Slot is reported to have personally promised to build the Liverpool attack around 22-year-old Wirtz - who also had offers from Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

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In a further power shift, however, Liverpool proved to be a bigger draw than either Bayern or City. Pep Guardiola’s side put out the word last month that they would be out of the running for Wirtz owing to the overall cost of the deal.

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But perhaps it’s just a sign of the times that Liverpool have got the pull these days. The City boss needs a refresh in his squad - and the signing of Wirtz would have heralded a new era at the Etihad.

Man City make 'compromise' signings instead

But those plans were left in tatters after being outflanked by the Reds. And in a new report from Jonathan Northcroft from the Sunday Times, the transfer of Wirtz to Liverpool has left officials at other clubs in AWE at the deal Richard Hughes has done.

Liverpool will take a huge leap forward thanks to the acquisition of Wirtz - leaving Man City frantically redrawing their transfer plans.

“A senior Premier League scout put aside envy to call the recruitment of Wirtz “an excellent signing [that] positions Liverpool as the club to beat. City are now finding themselves having to make compromise signings, which is wild given their wealth and standing, but it is very much an accurate reflection of the market in 2025",” a report reads.

Man City forced into wild transfer action

While Guardiola would have dearly loved to make Wirtz his flagship summer signing, instead he has been scrabbling around trying to fill holes in his squad.

He’s brought in Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki already. All three are Stateside as City embark on their FIFA Club World Cup campaign.

Ait-Nouri has been signed from Wolves and will solve a long-standing issue at left-back. Reijnders will rejuvenate a listing midfield. And Cherki is a very good player who Liverpool also had their eye on. He will be one to watch next season.

All three together cost around the same that Liverpool will end up paying for Wirtz. That is good value based on City’s needs.

But the report makes it clear that these signings were only made because City FAILED to get their No1 deal over the line - which was for Wirtz.

READ MORE: Liverpool set to break transfer record for SECOND time

So Liverpool’s signing of the Germany international forced Guardiola into a very hasty transfer shakeup - emphasising the unprecedented nature of Liverpool’s business.