Liverpool are poised to finish the signing of Germany ahead Florian Wirtz after the Premier League champions reportedly reached an settlement with Bayer Leverkusen on deal price £116million together with add-ons.
The transfer will see Liverpool break the British switch file to amass Wirtz, who had beforehand been linked with Manchester Metropolis and Bayern Munich.
Wirtz has topped 30 purpose involvements in every of the final two seasons. He racked up 37 in 2023-24 as Leverkusen gained the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double and reached the Europa League ultimate, the place defeat to Atalanta marked their sole lack of the season.
Although Leverkusen didn’t win a significant trophy in 2024-25, Wirtz was concerned in 30 targets in one other stellar season. Nonetheless, the scale of the price means there may be appreciable stress on his shoulders to ship at Anfield.
However he’s removed from the primary participant to affix a Premier League membership for a price of at the very least £100m.
Certainly, 4 others have achieved so, although they’ve loved various ranges of success.
Jack Grealish: Aston Villa to Manchester Metropolis – £100m (2021)
Leaving his boyhood membership was tough for Grealish, however the transfer to Metropolis paid off because it has yielded seven trophies for the attacking midfielder.
Grealish has gained three Premier League titles with Metropolis, whereas additionally tasting glory within the Champions League, FA Cup, Membership World Cup and UEFA Tremendous Cup.
He was instrumental within the treble-winning season of 2022-23, registering 16 purpose involvements.
Nevertheless, extra lately he has fallen out of favour with Pep Guardiola and appears destined to depart the Etihad Stadium, with a mortgage transfer seemingly a chance.
Enzo Fernandez: Benfica to Chelsea – £106.8m (2023)
Fernandez is the person whom Wirtz will displace because the file holder when his switch goes by means of.
Chelsea signed him in February 2023 following Fernandez’s essential position in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup success.
He had struggled to justify that outlay throughout his first season and a half, however Fernandez’s fortunes improved in his second full marketing campaign.
The 24-year-old registered 22 purpose involvements in 2024-25 as Chelsea certified for the Champions League and gained the Convention League.
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Declan Rice: West Ham to Arsenal – £105m (2023)
Having claimed Convention League glory in his ultimate season with the Hammers, Rice has but to win a trophy with Arsenal.
Nevertheless, that isn’t for lack of making an attempt on his half.
Rice has established himself as probably the greatest midfielders on this planet in his time at Emirates Stadium.
In two seasons, he has 35 purpose involvements in all competitions, his most memorable being the 2 free-kicks he scored in opposition to Actual Madrid on this season’s Champions League quarter-finals.
His transfer to north London has been an undoubted success. All that’s lacking is the silverware.
Moises Caicedo: Brighton and Hove Albion to Chelsea – £100m (2023)
The Ecuadorian was excellent in 2022-23 for the Seagulls however initially struggled to make an impression upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge.
That modified in 2024-25, with Caicedo essential to the Blues’ success together with his combative play within the midfield.
Idrissa Gueye (181) was the only real midfielder within the Premier League with a better mixed whole of tackles gained and interceptions than Caicedo (163).
Caicedo additionally did a wonderful job of progressing play, recording 235 passes into the ultimate third, essentially the most of any midfielder within the division.
Nonetheless solely 22, the indicators are good that Chelsea’s choice to spend such an enormous sum on Caicedo will probably be vindicated.
