Liverpool’s first bid for Florian Wirtz has been rejected by Bayer Leverkusen.
A club-record offer of £109 million was tabled to the Bundesliga outfit late last week ahead of the transfer window reopening on Sunday but it was rebuffed.
Arne Slot’s side are currently running unopposed to sign the Germany playmaker after Manchester City and Bayern Munich withdrew their interest.
However Leverkusen are understood to still value Wirtz at closer to €150M (£126M) after quoting a similar figure to Bayern prior to their curbed pursuit.
Should the Reds meet that asking price, it would set a new British transfer record, eclipsing Chelsea’s £115M signing of Moises Caicedo in 2023.
Talks are continuing between both parties with Anfield chiefs determined to seal the German player of the year’s signature despite their initial rejection.
The Premier League champions are hoping to tie up several priority targets as early as possible this summer with Jeremie Frimpong already signed.
Frimpong’s arrival was announced just hours after Liverpool sanctioned Trent Alexander-Arnold’s early release from his exiting contract to join Real Madrid.
A payment of £8.4M secured the full-back’s premature departure while the money recouped on his remaining wages saw he club generate £10M overall.