Inside blockbuster Florian Wirtz £116m transfer as Leverkusen star blown away by Liverpool pitch

Wirtz

It was Friday May 23, when Liverpool were gearing up for one of the biggest weekends in their modern history, when Florian Wirtz confirmed his intentions.

The Bayer Leverkusen international had been cutting a figure of serenity on his social media accounts, posting from his Corsica sun lounger of idyllic sunsets

Behind the scenes, however, Wirtz remained deep in discussions with his parents, Karin and Hans, to decide just what he should do about his long-term future. He stood at something of a crossroads.

At the age of 22, the Bundesliga player of the year had three options.

The first was to remain as the Bayer Leverkusen talisman and lead the charge for a new-look Werkself side as they attempted to wrestle back the title they had won in historic fashion the previous year.

However, with Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, Jeremie Frimpong a Liverpool player and Jonthan Tah now with Bayern Munich, the squad that had battled to become 'Bundesligameisters' was being decimated in front of his eyes. Wirtz knew that process was also set to continue, with Victor Boniface expected to be the next out the door.

The second option was to move to Bayern Munich and travel the path that so many before him had taken by joining the biggest club in his homeland.

The Bayern behemoth have a long-established history of cherry picking the best players from their domestic rivals and for much of the calendar year, there was a belief, which eventually became a hubris in Munich, that Wirtz would follow suit.

The third choice for Wirtz was to expand his horizons and move to the Premier Leaguewhere new champions Liverpool had made it known they would be waiting with open arms if the 22-year-old opted to switch to 'the island', as it is colloquially referred to in Germany.

As one of 10 children, Wirtz's family values are strong and after long talks with his parents, who have helped guide on every major decision to date in his brilliant young career,

it was decreed that a move to Anfield would be the best of the three enticing options.

There has been some conjecture over claims Wirtz and his parents met with Liverpool in Blackpool last month as the player listened to the pitches that were being laid out in front of him from the Reds and Manchester City.

However, what was never disputed was that Liverpool, at some point, had made clear their admiration and interest, if he was keen to experience a new league and a different environment.

Having conquered the Bundesliga with previously unfancied Leverkusen, would winning it multiple times with annual favourites Bayern really fortify him?

The idea of competing for a spot in the team with international colleague and friend Jamal Musiala was also debated at length.

The confidence of Bayern, which seeped out in certain sections of the media in Germany was said to have annoyed the Wirtz family and the Bundesliga champions' private convictions that the gifted attacking midfielder would simply fall in line and join them were ultimately misguided.

How much of a factor that was eventually was in the decision, only he and his inner circle will know, but Bayern's charm offensive was hampered by it,

smoothing the path for Liverpool in the process.

So on May 23, with the Reds preparing for an LFC Foundation Gala at the Anglican Cathedral, and Jurgen Klopp back in town ahead of the Premier League trophy lift at Anfield and the city-wide parade that followed,

Wirtz put the icing on the cake of a historic weekend that had been 35 years in the making by informing Liverpool of his wish to join them.

That was the catalyst for Liverpool to step up talks with Leverkusen as sporting director Richard Hughes took the lead, thrashing out negotiations with his German counterpart, Simon Rolfes.

Insiders backed Hughes to get the deal over the line, with one recruitment figure describing the Scot as "the best in the business" as talks intensified for Wirtz.

An initial offer arrived in late May at £109m, which was turned down by Leverkusen, who were holding out for £126m (€150m).

Liverpool never had any intention to go as high as that valuation and talks remained ongoing.

The bid was increased earlier this month to £114m and while that offer wasn't accepted, it was never formally rejected. Instead, the terms acted as the catalyst to bring the two parties closer to the sum that was eventually agreed this week at £116m.