New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has reportedly identified Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz as his dream summer target, but there’s an issue.
Florian Wirtz endured a testing debut season at Anfield following his record-breaking £100 million transfer from Germany. He managed a return of seven goals and ten assists across 49 appearances, showing flashes of his immense quality, but he just hasn’t lived up to the hype.
Adapting to the Premier League has seen a different Wirtz compared to his form under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. Under Alonso’s guidance, Wirtz was the jewel of a historic, unbeaten domestic double-winning side, culminating in an 18-goal season.
However, it’s clear to see that Alonso hasn’t lost faith in the midfielder, despite taking over at Chelsea.
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Xabi Alonso is behind Chelsea’s interest in Florian Wirtz
Graeme Bailey issued an update on Chelsea’s interest in Liverpool attacker Florian Wirtz via TeamTalk, stating that the Reds don’t want to see him leave this summer.
It’s a move that’s very much being driven by Xabi Alonso, despite Chelsea wanting Wirtz before he joined Liverpool.
“Liverpool are not going to move on from Florian Wirtz, they worked so hard on that and the word from inside Anfield is the way he finished the season was a real plus point.
“They know he struggled to adapt at first, but they had so many new players coming in – it was never going to be easy.
“But even if someone, like a Bayern Munich, who wanted him before, or if Xabi Alonso, who pushed for him at Chelsea, there is no way that Liverpool are letting him go, and they insist they have not heard anything from anyone.”
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Florian Wirtz was always going to be unrealistic
Prising Florian Wirtz away from Anfield this summer is a pipe dream for Chelsea.
Having spent a £100 million on the German just twelve months ago, Liverpool have absolutely no intention of cutting ties after his debut season.
Even with the powerful lure of a Xabi Alonso reunion at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea simply lack the Champions League football and financial flexibility to convince Liverpool to sell.
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