Liverpool agree attainable British listing rate with Bayer Leverkusen for Wirtz
Andy Hunter
Liverpool have agreed a rate with Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz. The German will sign up for the Premier League champions in an £100m deal plus £16m in attainable add-ons that may make Wirtz the most costly British switch of all time, eclipsing Chelsea’s £115m acquire of Moises Caicedo.
He will go through a scientific and finalise the switch within the coming days. Personal phrases have already been agreed.
Key occasions
David Beckham has been awarded a knighthood within the King’s Birthday Honours. The former England captain, a winner of league titles in 4 international locations and of 115 nationwide group caps, has been awarded the dignity for services and products to recreation and to charity.
Sir David additionally received the Champions League as a part of Manchester United’s treble-winning group in 1999, and because retiring as a participant has grow to be a founder and co-owner of American group Inter Miami.
He has labored as an envoy for the global charity UNICEF since 2005 and because final yr has been an envoy for the King’s Foundation.
Beckham stated: “Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true.
“Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation. I’m so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I’m grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment.
“It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.”
Rachel Daly, one of the crucial stars of the England girls’s group which received the European Championship on house soil in 2022, has been made an MBE. The Harrogate-born celebrity, 33, performs for Aston Villa within the Women’s Super League however retired from global soccer final yr.
Daly stated: “I am greatly honoured to receive an MBE. This award is not just for me, but for everyone who has supported me and worked alongside me. It’s a very proud moment for me and my family.”
Frank Rothwell, the landlord of Oldham who secured their go back to the EFL previous this month, has grow to be an OBE for services and products to dementia analysis. PA Media
Chelsea’s first fit on the Club World Cup is towards Los Angeles FC the place they are going to meet a well-recognized foe in Hugo Lloris.
The former Tottenham goalkeeper took a while to settle in however is now one of the crucial MLS’s perfect. Lloris performed a pivotal function in getting LAFC to the event via making a large save past due in time beyond regulation right through the play-in fit towards Club América, one among Mexico’s perennial powers.
The rating was once tied 1-1 within the 109th minute when Club América’s Javairô Dilrosun (who, curiously, has simply signed with LAFC forward of the Club World Cup) fired a blistering shot from 8 yards out after a give-and-go with Diego Valdes. But Lloris reacted temporarily and pivoted to his left to deflect the ball clear of the close to publish. Six mins later, Denis Bouanga scored to offer LAFC a 2-1 victory.
Joseph D’Hippolito has the lowdown from Lloris and his teammates on his time in LA.
Brighton have signed the teenage ahead Charalampos Kostoulas, who gave up a Champions League season with Olympiakos to play within the Premier League.
The 18-year-old Kostoulas signed a five-year contract, Brighton stated, with the switch rate reportedly set at an preliminary €35m.
“It is a dream for everybody to come here and play football,” the Greece Under-21 striker stated. He scored seven objectives in 22 video games within the Greek league as Olympiakos received a record-extending 48th name and finished a trophy double within the home cup.
Olympiakos was once increased without delay into the profitable Champions League opening section — as a result of title-holder Paris Saint-Germain already secured a spot via successful the French league — and can play 8 video games within the single-standings league. Brighton completed 8th within the Premier League and didn’t qualify for European soccer. Associated Press
Thomas Frank and Spurs are a excellent are compatible on paper however the north London activity will probably be a tricky one for the Dane. Frank is tactically versatile however is usually a gradual starter and has restricted revel in in managing facets competing in Europe. Plus he arrives as the affection nonetheless lingers for Ange Postecoglou after the Australian delivered Tottenham’s first trophy since 2008 and the membership’s first European trophy since 1984.
Frank has restricted revel in of balancing the home league and Europe, the furthest he ever took Brøndby being the fourth qualifying spherical of the Europa League. His European listing is significantly deficient: performed 10, received 3, and two of the ones have been towards Juvenes/Dogana of San Marino. His listing in home cups, in a similar fashion, is dismal; his previous historical past makes it not going a deficient league season might be redeemed via different silverware – even supposing the intensity of the Spurs squad most likely way the cups is probably not any such low precedence.
There is one additional doubt, which is extra to do with Spurs than with Frank. He is leaving an exceptionally well-run membership, at which each element labored in combination to a coherent philosophy. There may also be no walk in the park that anybody cog from that gadget, alternatively necessary, can succeed in good fortune in a distinct atmosphere, one thing Chelsea have discovered as they collect increasingly more portions from Brighton with out ever having a look like replicating the potency of the Brighton style. It is also that such potency isn’t even imaginable at larger golf equipment.
Read Jonathan Wilson’s complete evaluation under.
Tottenham showed the appointment of Thomas Frank final night time after protecting talks by means of intermediaries and it seems that willing to keep away from a chronic seek for the particular person to steer them ahead following a season by which they completed 17th with 38 issues.
Spurs were inspired via greater than the headline pieces of Frank’s Brentford tenure – the promotion from the Championship by means of the playoffs in 2021, how he has established them within the Premier League, completing 13th, 9th, 16th and 10th. Frank constantly over-achieved in terms of his monetary way at Brentford; they have got one of the crucial smallest budgets within the department. An very good communicator and famous developer of younger ability, he has additionally proven himself to be tactically versatile.
Frank leaves ‘giant a part of center’ at Brentford after leaving for Spurs
Thomas Frank has penned a letter to Brentford supporters after deciding to depart the west London membership 9 years on from when he got here in.
To everybody related to Brentford Football Club.
The time has come for me to transport on. But, whilst I go away, I do know I’ve left a large piece of my center at Brentford, no longer simply on the soccer membership however with the group and, in fact, the improbable and dependable supporters.
I wish to lengthen my profound gratitude to the membership for giving me the danger to pursue my goals and for everybody concerned who made the adventure any such memorable one.
For my circle of relatives and I, it’s been a privilege to be allowed to be a part of any such particular group – it’s an revel in and journey that we can cherish for existence. So, thanks.
Whatever we now have carried out, we now have carried out in combination, and our good fortune is constructed on solidarity, spirit, braveness and ambition at each degree of the membership and among the fanatics.
Everybody has contributed, and each contribution has been beneficial. It’s not that i am simply leaving a soccer membership, I’m pronouncing good-bye to pals whose toughen via excellent and unhealthy occasions I can lift with me all the time.
I want to say a distinct phrase of because of Matthew Benham [Brentford owner]. His believe and friendship have intended such a lot and the reality he gave me a possibility in English soccer way I can all the time owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Matt.
So, whilst this can be a good-bye, I am hoping the relationships I’ve constructed with everyone will probably be lasting ones and, in fact, we can meet once more within the superb international of soccer.
Thank you,
Thomas
Florian Wirtz has similarly inspired for Germany. After lacking the 2022 World Cup because of his ACL harm. He returned to the nationwide facet in 2024, scoring his first function for Germany in seven seconds towards France to grow to be the second one quickest goalscorer in global soccer historical past in the back of Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner.
Wirtz was once named in Germany’s squad for the 2024 Euros 2024 the place he scored the opener of the event in a 5–1 victory towards Scotland, turning into the youngest German participant to attain within the European Championship. Against Spain within the quarter-final, Wirtz got here off the bench to attain an 89th-minute equalising function however Spain went directly to win in extra-time.
A imaginable British switch listing is not anything to scoff at however the truth Liverpool most effective spent round £10m on Federico Chiesa final summer time mixed with the funds that include successful the Premier League, way the membership appear to be glad to spend giant to toughen Arne Slot.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving the membership, there are probably considerations about the place Liverpool’s ingenious output comes from. While the 2 don’t play the similar place, Wirtz can fill lend a hand bridge that hole as a participant who can development the ball ahead successfully.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Florian Wirtz has been no secret. The membership fought off passion from Manchester City and Bayern Munich with the German most effective in need of to enroll in Arne Slot’s facet. Wirtz, who can play around the frontline, is likely one of the maximum coveted avid gamers in Europe and was once understood to be inspired via Liverpool’s plans.
The 22-year-old has spent his complete senior profession at Bayer Leverkusen. He was once instrumental in breaking the chokehold Munich have at the Bundesliga via serving to his facet win their first ever league name and the DFB-Pokal in 2023-24 with 18 objectives and 19 assists in 47 video games, appearing no indicators of his ACL harm in 2022 being a subject matter.
Last season, Leverkusen completed runners-up to the German giants and Wirtz controlled 16 objectives and 14 assists in all competitions. According to Opta, most effective Mohamed Salah (18) and Lamine Yamal (13) recorded greater than his 12 assists from open play amongst avid gamers from Europe’s most sensible 5 leagues.
With the associated fee agreed between the 2 golf equipment Liverpool is now unfastened to talk to Wirtz to agree on private phrases.
Liverpool agree attainable British listing rate with Bayer Leverkusen for Wirtz

Andy Hunter
Liverpool have agreed a rate with Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz. The German will sign up for the Premier League champions in an £100m deal plus £16m in attainable add-ons that may make Wirtz the most costly British switch of all time, eclipsing Chelsea’s £115m acquire of Moises Caicedo.
He will go through a scientific and finalise the switch within the coming days. Personal phrases have already been agreed.
The Club World Cup begins on Sunday and has already been arguable on account of more fixtures and Fifa involvement. Add on that temperatures in US usually are above 30C and whew.
Notable warmth occasions aren’t assured right through the Club World Cup however they’re much more likely to occur than prior to now on account of local weather breakdown and there’s a query over whether or not sufficient is being executed to evolve to a brand new fact. The sole connection with excessive climate in Fifa’s rules for the Club World Cup pertains to using cooling breaks, which enable avid gamers to tackle more fluids as soon as in every part if the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) (a measure of warmth tension that incorporates humidity and air motion) exceeds 32C at the pitch. This is the protocol in position since 2014, and for the global avid gamers’ union, FifPro, it’s inadequate. It argues that the brink for cooling breaks will have to be between 28C and 32C underneath the WBGT, with choices for a 2nd beverages wreck according to part. If the warmth rises above 32C, FifPro argues, fits will have to be rescheduled.
Read extra from Paul MacInnes under.
First is these days’s Rumour Mill with Will Unwin detailing a imaginable transfer to Aston Villa for Alejandro Garnacho (à l. a. Marcus Rashford) whilst Manchester United and Liverpool proceed their seek for a No 9.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our weekend soccer countdown! The season is also over however the Big Wheel O’Football continues to be spinning as rapid as ever.
We are a pair days clear of the hole fixture of the Club World Cup, and so much is using at the event’s monetary good fortune for Fifa’s Gianni Infantino.
Plus switch strikes and managerial adjustments are in complete swing. Last night time Tottenham showed Ange Postecoglou’s successor: Thomas Frank. How will he fare for the north London facet? Where does it go away Brentford, the membership he was once at for 9 years?
Join me for the entire build-up, newest information and research and, as all the time, be happy to ship me an e-mail together with your ideas, questions and grievances.