Liverpool and Bayern Leverkusen in talks over Florian MüllerFlorian Wirtz) has reached an agreement on the transfer of the 22-year-old German midfielder to join the Reds for a record-breaking Premier League transfer fee of £116 million.
According to Sky Sports, the basic transfer fee for this deal is 100 million pounds, and the other 16 million pounds are additional terms. Murtz must meet certain performance indicators to take effect. This total transfer fee of 116 million pounds will break the new record of Premier League transfer fees.
The current Premier League transfer fee record is held by Chelsea's Moisés Caicedo, who moved from Brighton to Chelsea for a basic transfer fee of 100 million pounds in the summer of 2023, with a total transfer fee of up to 115 million pounds. The Transfermarkt website confirmed that Moisés' transfer will surpass Caicedo to become the most expensive player in Premier League history.
Negotiation Process and Competition Analysis
According to The Athletic, a few days ago, the two clubs still had differences over the transfer fee. Liverpool initially proposed a price of 100 million pounds plus 14 million pounds of additional terms, but Leverkusen believed that the Reds had the ability to increase the offer. The final negotiation results showed that Liverpool only paid 2 million pounds more than the initial offer and successfully reached an agreement.
German Bild pointed out that Liverpool successfully beat out many European giants in this transfer competition, including Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid. According to ESPN analysis, these clubs have expressed strong interest in Murtz, but Liverpool's positive attitude and clear plan finally impressed the German midfielder.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot told the Liverpool Echo: "Murtz is a rare talent whose technical ability and game IQ are impressive. We believe he will be a core figure for Liverpool over the next decade."
Murtz's Achievement and Potential Assessment
According to Opta, Murtz played for Leverkusen's first team at the age of 17, showing extraordinary talent. So far, he has scored 57 goals, assisted 62 times, and directly participated in 119 goals in 197 games, averaging one goal or assist every 1.65 games.
In the 2023-24 season, Murtz contributed 11 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga. According to the WhoScored rating system, his average game score reached 7.8 points, ranking first among Bundesliga midfielders. According to FBref data, he ranked in the top 51 TP3T in the Bundesliga in terms of key passes, dribbling and frontcourt pressure.
At the national team level, Murtz has played 31 international matches for Germany and scored 7 goals. According to UEFA's data analysis, he performed particularly well in the group stage of the 2024 European Cup, creating 2.7 scoring opportunities per game and being the core of the German team's offensive system.
Former German international Dietmar Hamann said in a commentary for Sky Sports: "Mülzer is one of the most outstanding talents in German football in the past decade. His vision, technique and calm finishing ability are reminiscent of a young Ozil, but his contribution on the defensive end is more comprehensive."
Analysts from Goal.com believe that the signing of Müller will provide Liverpool with more tactical options, especially when Salah may leave the team, he will become the new pillar of the Red Army's offensive system. At the same time, The Guardian pointed out that Müller's age and potential make him a long-term investment, and Liverpool may benefit from this deal for at least ten years.
Financial impact and team strategy
The Deloitte Football Money League report shows that the record transfer fee reflects the financial strength of Liverpool under the leadership of Fenway Sports Group. According to Forbes estimates, Liverpool's current market value is about 4.5 billion pounds, which is enough to support such a major investment.
Analysts at Jones Sports Economics pointed out that Murtz's commercial value cannot be ignored. As a new face of German football, his appeal in the Asian and North American markets will bring Liverpool considerable jersey sales and sponsorship revenue.
Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes emphasized in an interview with Liverpool's official website: "Signing Murtz reflects our planning and commitment to the future. We are not only introducing a top player, but also building a squad that can compete in top competitions for a long time."
Müller will complete a medical examination and officially join Liverpool after the European Cup. According to The Times, he will sign a six-year contract with a weekly salary of about 200,000 pounds, which will make him one of the highest-paid players in the Red Army, second only to Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
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