Double Arsenal boost as top-class attacker gets £42m price drop and Liverpool interest downplayed

Arsenal have a better chance of signing Bayer Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz amid an exciting double update on his situation, though their main transfer rivals have been named.

According to the chief reporter of German source Abendzeitung Munich, Maximilian Koch, Wirtz is available for around £83.4million (€100m / US$111.7m), rather than the £125.1m (€150m / US$167.6m) price tag which has previously been mentioned. At £83.4m the attacking midfielder would be in Arsenal’s price range, as their transfer record is the £105m (€125.8m / US$140.6m) capture of Declan Rice from

Spending £125m on Wirtz would have seen Arsenal seriously stretch their finances, and it is unclear whether club chiefs at the Emirates would have sanctioned such a deal.

Koch adds that Bayern Munich are poised to enter the race for the classy playmaker too, as he is ‘very popular’ among their senior officials. Elsewhere, Real Madrid are understood to be in with a good chance of landing Wirtz.

The Liverpool Echo, meanwhile, have played down Liverpool’s rumoured interest in the Germany star. In the summer the Reds prioritised a new defensive midfielder over a No 10 such as Wirtz, and that is likely to be the case again in 2025.

Liverpool’s top target for the No 6 role was Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, and talks were held between the two clubs before the player opted to stay put.

Earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano revealed Liverpool are continuing to monitor Zubimendi’s situation ahead of potentially making new contact for him in the near future

Spending £125m on Wirtz would have seen Arsenal seriously stretch their finances, and it is unclear whether club chiefs at the Emirates would have sanctioned such a deal.

Koch adds that Bayern Munich are poised to enter the race for the classy playmaker too, as he is ‘very popular’ among their senior officials. Elsewhere, Real Madrid are understood to be in with a good chance of landing Wirtz.

The Liverpool Echo, meanwhile, have played down Liverpool’s rumoured interest in the Germany star. In the summer the Reds prioritised a new defensive midfielder over a No 10 such as Wirtz, and that is likely to be the case again in 2025.

Liverpool’s top target for the No 6 role was Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, and talks were held between the two clubs before the player opted to stay put.

Earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano revealed Liverpool are continuing to monitor Zubimendi’s situation ahead of potentially making new contact for him in the near future.

Arsenal transfers: Tough Florian Wirtz battle looms

On Wednesday, German outlet Bild claimed Arsenal are ‘fully committed’ to signing Wirtz.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with the 21-year-old too. Indeed, last week journalist Diego Mengual suggested Arne Slot’s side will ‘go all out’ to win the race for his services. If the latest information from Koch and the Echo is to be believed, though, then the chase is now down to Arsenal, Bayern and Madrid.