Chelsea and new manager Xabi Alonso are reportedly seeking ways to sign Florian Wirtz from Liverpool after the German’s difficult first season at Anfield.
Liverpool shocked the wider football community by winning the race for the No.7’s signature, agreeing a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to pay a fixed £100m fee plus a potential £16m in add-ons.
This deal was made after Wirtz shone for Leverkusen in 2024-25, scoring 16 goals and assisting 15. This season, the 23-year-old managed just 7 goals and 10 assists. For a player of his ability, this has been dubbed a failure.
Now, reports suggest that Chelsea are looking to rock the boat to make a play to sign Wirtz and offer Liverpool a potential way out of what is a financially huge deal.
? | @footyinsider247: Xabi Alonso is a “huge fan” of Florian Wirtz and is keen for Chelsea to sign him this summer in a sensational move.
Sources say Liverpool would be open to letting Wirtz go for the right deal even though they would publicly deny that. pic.twitter.com/35f1DEiLO9
— Anfield Edition | æ (@AnfieldEdition) May 27, 2026
Xabi Alonso wants Chelsea to sign Florian Wirtz as new Stamford Bridge project begins
Chelsea parted ways with Enzo Maresca in January, but the appointment of Alonso offers a massive chance to return to high profile football after years of stagnation under Todd Boehly.
Football Insider reports: “Xabi Alonso is a ‘huge’ fan of Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz and is keen for Chelsea to sign him this summer in a sensational move.
“The Blues hold a strong interest in the 23-year-old just one year after the Merseyside giants signed him from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £116million.
“Sources say Liverpool would be open to letting Wirtz go for the right deal even though they would publicly deny that. Alonso oversaw the German’s transition to the next level in the 2023-24 season at Leverkusen, ultimately developing him into one of the most exciting talents in Europe.
“The Spaniard was appointed as Chelsea manager earlier this month and will be tasked with an overhaul at Stamford Bridge, after a failure to qualify for any level of European football. Alonso’s arrival at Chelsea could be the saving grace for his future in the English top flight, but the Blues will be well aware that the costs behind such a deal will be significant.”
Liverpool are highly unlikely to sell Wirtz even if those outside consider him to be a flop already. The fact of the matter is that 17 goal contributions in your debut season as a 23-year-old is a fantastic return.
The matter of his £116m transfer fee certainly paints a different picture, but Liverpool are still very lucky to have a player as talented as Wirtz is.
The young midfielder will more than likely be a major star at the upcoming World Cup which will remind the world just how good Wirtz really is.