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'I'm slightly surprised!' - Gary Neville shocked by Liverpool launching nine-figure bid for Florian Wirtz but claims Arne Slot 'deserves' to break British transfer record

<p>Pundit and former Manchester United star Neville has admitted his surprise at Liverpool's intent to part with a massive fee in their pursuit of Leverkusen and Germany star Wirtz. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/liverpool-130m-florian-wirtz-bid-rejected-bayer-leverkusen-transfer/blt03567b962e19b7af#cs3574feb5b34c95f0" target="_blank">The Reds have had a €130m offer rejected</a> but are thought to be inching their way towards a deal, which would set a new club record for an incoming transfer.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>If Wirtz were to arrive for more than the recent €130m bid, it would surpass the initial €75m they forked out for Darwin Nunez in 2022. Liverpool signed only one player to add to Slot's squad last summer - Federico Chiesa, who made only six league appearances - but the Dutchman has already had his hand strengthened by the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong, and Neville claimed the manager deserves the trust to pursue Wirtz having led the club to the Premier League title.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Speaking on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M81Y6QXaqb0" target="_blank">It's Called Soccer podcast</a>, Neville said: "I think when you're talking about winning the league, what is it that improves you?</p><p>"I mean, the only thing that's going to improve you when you win the league is signing world-class players, or players that have got the potential to be world-class players. So signing Wirtz is fantastic.</p><p>"Frimpong and then there's talk of [Milos] Kerkez as well, deals with their right and left-back situations. So to get those three done, if they were to get those three done quite quickly, would be smart business. But I wouldn't have expected anything else from Liverpool.</p><p>"[I'm] maybe slightly surprised that they've gone so heavy on Wirtz in terms of the fee. They don't normally go that big, but Slot deserves it, by the way. He waited 12 months for a player to sign."</p>

WHAT NEVILLE SAID

<p>Liverpool will hope to make a significant breakthrough with Leverkusen soon before they begin to target other potential arrivals. Bournemouth's Kerkez has been linked with a switch to Merseyside and would be the obvious successor to stalwart left-back Andy Robertson if he were to sign.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR WIRTZ AND LIVERPOOL?

'I'm slightly surprised!' - Gary Neville shocked by Liverpool launching nine-figure bid for Florian Wirtz but claims Arne Slot 'deserves' to break British transfer record | Goal.com

Gary Neville weighs in on Liverpool&apos;s pursuit of Florian Wirtz, with the Bayer Leverkusen star heavily linked with a move to Anfield.

&apos;I&apos;m slightly surprised!&apos; - Gary Neville shocked by Liverpool launching nine-figure bid for Florian Wirtz but claims Arne Slot &apos;deserves&apos; to break British transfer record