Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly rejected £113million bid for , which would have been a club record purchase, as the German club remind the Reds of their initial £126m valuation. The 22-year-old has already expressed his desire to move to Anfield as talks continue over a move.

Arne Slot's side are trying to conclude the majority of their transfer business early in the summer, having already replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold with . In addition to signing Wirtz, they are also trying to tie up a deal for £45million-rated Milos Kerkez of .

claim that 's new club have rejected the offer for Wirtz, which consisted of an initial £100m payment plus £13m in add-ons, as they try to squeeze out a larger fee from the Merseyside outfit. Negotiations are continuing and all parties do still expect the transfer to go through.

A deal has not been completed despite weeks of negotiations because Leverkusen are playing hardball over the fee.

Leverkusen are trying to extract the maximum financial package from Wirtz, which they consider to be £126m, and expect another offer from Liverpool in the near future.

The Reds have been unwilling to match the original asking price so far. After two weeks of talks, they want to strike a compromise, whether that is money paid via instalments or bonuses .

Wirtz wants to join Liverpool and has already snubbed interest from and Manchester City, with , which would make him the club's second highest earner behind Mohamed Salah.

The attacking midfielder does not have a medical booked yet, which would take place once a fee has been agreed, as he continues to focus on international duty with Germany. They face France on Sunday afternoon in a Nations League third-place play-off.

After Germany's previous game this week against Portugal, when asked by a reporter if he was looking forward to playing for Liverpool.

He also spoke out on the move to denounce rumours that he wanted to take the number 10 jersey at Anfield, which currently belongs to Alexis Mac Allister.

Wirtz wears the same shirt at Leverkusen, but hit back at the suggestion on Instagram, writing: "Who says I want the 10 I respect players. Don't believe everything what's written."