Liverpool have officially withdrawn from the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, after talks broke down due to the German club’s escalating demands. With the deal now off the table, Liverpool have shifted their focus to Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, who has emerged as Arne Slot’s top attacking target for the summer window.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool submitted a significant offer — £100 million plus £13 million in add-ons — for Wirtz. However, Bayer Leverkusen rejected the proposal, standing firm on their valuation.
“Liverpool were really pushing for Wirtz,” Romano stated. “But Leverkusen’s position was clear: no discounts, no compromises — only a £150 million fee would be accepted.”
The deal would have shattered the British transfer record — currently held by Moisés Caicedo’s £115 million move to Chelsea — but Liverpool ultimately walked away, deeming Bayer Leverkusen’s valuation of Florian Wirtz unrealistic. Negotiations were further complicated by FC Köln’s claim to 5% of the fee under FIFA’s training compensation rules.
Wirtz had expressed his desire to join the Premier League champions, but with talks now at a standstill, Liverpool have shifted their attention to new targets — chief among them: Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, who has fallen down the pecking order after a difficult 2024/25 campaign.
Once a key figure in City’s historic treble-winning season two years ago, Grealish managed just 16 starts this past term. He was even omitted from the final Premier League fixture and the FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace, with Pep Guardiola preferring younger talents — including 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri, who came off the bench ahead of the £100 million Englishman.
With City preparing for the Club World Cup in June and reportedly open to either a loan or permanent exit for Grealish, Liverpool see a prime opportunity to strengthen their squad — particularly in creative and attacking roles.
Former teammate Shay Given believes Grealish still has the quality to perform at the highest level.
“Jack is a generational talent,” Given told Metro. “He could start for any top English club — Liverpool or Chelsea included. He just needs consistency and the right position.”
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot is said to view Grealish as a potential cornerstone of his attacking rebuild — especially as the club prepares for possible departures of Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, both of whom are reportedly attracting interest from abroad.
With Manchester City open to discussions and Liverpool eager to make a statement signing, Jack Grealish could soon be donning red at Anfield instead of sky blue at the Etihad.
