Jurgen Klopp will hold talks with the German football association over becoming his country's next manager, a job which would see him work with Liverpool star Florian Wirtz
Jurgen Klopp pundit
Jurgen Klopp has been candid about Florian Wirtz(Image: Magenta TV)
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Jurgen Klopp has never been shy in giving his opinion on Florian Wirtz, and now the pair are on course to work together. While announcing Julian Nagelsmann's departure on Friday, the German football association (DFB) confirmed that they'll hold talks with the interested Klopp over becoming their next manager.
It follows Germany's shock exit at the World Cup on Monday, as they were beaten on penalties in the round of 32 by Paraguay. Nagelsmann, 38, has stepped down from his position, having been in charge September 2023.
His departure has paved the way for Klopp to take over, with a clause in the former Liverpool boss' contact as Red Bull's Global Head of Soccer that allows him to accept the Germany job. One of the players he'd no-doubt be working with his Wirtz, who had an underwhelming first season at Liverpool following his £115million move from Bayer Leverkusen, a British record at the time.
The playmaker registered just seven goals and eight assists in 49 appearances under Arne Slot, who was sacked in May and replaced by Andoni Iraola. Wirtz was supposed to help Liverpool retain the Premier League title, with Klopp believing that the 23-year-old would make Slot's team even better.
During an interview with German broadcaster RTL, Klopp said of Wirtz's arrival: "It will be really, really great. I'm sure of it.... It's very difficult to strengthen them when you're champions. But Liverpool have managed that. They've signed an exceptional talent in Florian Wirtz."
Then in October, once it became clear that Wirtz was struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League, Klopp vowed on the The Diary of a CEO podcast: "You all will eat your words if you use the wrong words with Florian Wirtz. He's an incredible talent and player."
Klopp told RTL in the same month: "I don't have to worry about Florian Wirtz because his quality is so outstanding. Of course, everything is fine, and everyone knows that. The discussion is certainly being blown out of proportion."
Liverpool's German midfielder #07 Florian Wirtz reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
Florian Wirtz struggled in his first season at Liverpool(Image: Paul ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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He added: "He's a once-in-a-century talent, and at some point he'll show that in every game again, as he did at Leverkusen. (He has) a stable environment at Liverpool, and the club is great in moments like these. If anyone's worried - you don't have to! You can stop."
Klopp most recently commented on Wirtz while working as a pundit at the World Cup for another German broadcaster, Magenta. He gave a hint about how he'd use the Liverpool star in order to get the best out of him.
"The important thing is that we involve him in the game. There were moments against Curacao when I thought, 'just give him the ball'," Klopp explained when analysing Germany's 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 29: Florian Wirtz of Germany reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Germany suffered an early exit at the World Cup(Image: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
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"If you really want Flo Wirtz to get into a rhythm, if you want the place to really be buzzing, then give him the ball, because that's when he feels completely at home. It's important to involve him because that's when Flo can feel confident and comfortable on the pitch.
"He shouldn't drop back and get the ball from his own penalty area and we expect him to start making plays, we have to find moments where we can use this position, because with his positioning he creates a lot of space for the players next to him, for the full-backs and for everyone who can make runs into those space."
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