'Make it happen' - Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard gives glowing Florian Wirtz endorsement and urges former club to complete transfer for Bayer Leverkusen star quickly

Wirtz was a driving force behind Bayer Leverkusen's unprecedented success last season. The midfielder contributed 18 goals and 20 assists across all competitions, playing a crucial part in the club's remarkable domestic campaign. The German side claimed their first-ever Bundesliga title, lifted the German Cup and advanced all the way to the Europa League final.

Despite serious interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Wirtz appears inclined toward a move to Liverpool, impressed by Arne Slot's vision and the environment at the reigning Premier League champions. The Dutch manager is understood to have held successful discussions with Wirtz, outlining a clear vision for the player's development within his system, which has further impressed the attacking midfielder.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Gerrard said: "There are rumours obviously, Florian Wirtz. A big talent who's done fantastic for Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen. He's got a huge future in front of him, so if Liverpool is the place for him, let's hope we can make it happen."

While Liverpool are now seen as frontrunners for the midfielder's signature, negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen remain ongoing. Liverpool's initial approach included a base fee of £84 million ($114m) supplemented by £12.6m in performance-based add-ons. When that offer was turned down, the Reds returned with an improved package worth around £109.6m ($149m) - but Leverkusen once again stood firm. Despite the setbacks, Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards has received approval to commit up to €150m (£127m/$173m) from the club's transfer budget to finalize a deal for Wirtz.

After falling short against Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals, Wirtz and his Germany teammates are set to compete in the third-place play-off against the loser of the Spain vs France match.