It won't be the last time you hear the name Florian Wirtz this summer - with the Bayer Leverkusen star reportedly jetting to England for transfer talks
12:59, 15 May 2025Updated 13:01, 15 May 2025
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is quite the talent(Image: Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images/REX/Shutterstock)
Florian Wirtz is football's most in demand man this summer.
Wirtz, 22, has shot to superstardom under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso in a Bayer Leverkusen side that has stunned Europe. The attacking midfielder won the Bundesliga in a team that didn't lose all season, before representing Germany at Euro 2024.
This season major silverware has evaded Bayer - and Alonso has announced he's stepping down from his post. Wirtz, who has 57 goals in 196 games in all competitions, could be the second big name to leave the BayArena this summer.
Manchester City and Liverpool are both in the race for his signature - and the champions are said to have met with the player and his representatives on Tuesday.
While City, according to reports, met with Wirtz's parents over the weekend. However, both clubs are facing an uphill battle against Bayern Munich, with reports in Germany suggesting a deal is all but sealed.
Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen shoots and misses during the DFB cup semifinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Fortuna Düsseldorf at BayArena on April 03, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany
Florian Wirtz has been targeted by both Man City and Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
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German outlet Kicker has claimed Wirtz and his representatives flew on a private jet to England to meet up with Liverpool on Tuesday.
Bild add that the meeting took place in Blackpool - where Liverpool have held talks before - before flying on to Manchester. Slot is said to be a keen admirer of the footballer and "concrete" talks have started.
Munich-based publication Suddeutsche Zeitung add Wirtz family were on a “secret one-day mission” to England and did not meet with Pep Guardiola. Instead, they met with representatives of Liverpool.
Florian Wirtz shooting
Florian Wirtz has reportedly jetted to England for transfer talks(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Wirtz comes from footballing stock. His parents act as his agents and his eldest sister, Juliane, plays professionally for Women's Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen.
Meanwhile, his grandfather is the chairman of SV Grün-Weiß Brauweiller. It was here that Wirtz's footballing career started before he moved to Cologne - where he stayed for a decade before moving to Leverkusen's youth team.
However, the move was controversial - Cologne claimed Leverkusen had broken a gentleman's agreement between the three Rhineland clubs (Cologne, Leverkusen, and Borussia Monchengladbach) not to sign each other's youth talents.
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz has shot to stardom under Xabi Alonso(Image: Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Im)
Leverkusen argued they were signing a player for their first team, with then managing director Rudi Völler telling Kicker: "It would have been grossly negligent not to enter negotiations."
The youngster's rise has been meteoric at the BayArena - and he was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season last campaign.
"You have to give special players like Flo the possibility to do special things on the pitch," Alonso gushed.
Wirtz, who won the European Under-21 Championship with his nation in 2021, has already amassed 29 caps for Germany's senior side, having scored six times for Die Mannschaft.
Former Germany boss and now Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said: "Florian is just a huge asset for this team with his care-free nature.
"He's simply an outstanding technician, loves to play, is very creative, has a good shot, runs hard and is quick. He's the full package."
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Wirtz, however, won't move on the cheap and Leverkusen have slapped a €150m (£126m) price tag on the German.