Britain is "very close" to agreeing the size of its Brexit bill, Ireland's EU commissioner said Wednesday, but reports that the divorce settlement could be up to 55 billion euros have angered both Brexiteers and europhiles.

"I would welcome very much the fact that the United Kingdom has brought forward proposals that go very close towards meeting the requirements of the EU 27 member states," said Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan.

London and Brussels have agreed that Britain will pay between 45 and 55 billion euros ($53 and $63 billion), according to the Daily Telegraph.

The Financial Times reported Britain would cover EU liabilities worth as much as 100 billion euros, but when structured as net payments over many decades that could drop to less than half that amount.