Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has lifted the lid on the club’s transfer negotiations with Liverpool after the Premier League champions signed Florian Wirtz in a club-record deal. The Germany international completed his switch to Anfield last month in a move worth up to a British record £116m.

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has opened up on how Liverpool beat Bayern Munich and Manchester City to secure the transfer for German sensation Florian Wirtz this summer. Wirtz opted to move to Anfield for a British record transfer fee of £116 million ($159m) despite strong interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern and the Cityzens.