Xabi Alonso has spoken out on Florian Wirtz's future at Bayer Leverkusen, labeling the player a "special" talent. Bayern Munich is the favorite to sign the attacking midfielder, though Liverpool and Manchester City are also interested.
Wirtz has drawn interest from various clubs and could move on in the upcoming window. Alonso, meanwhile, will be heading to Real Madrid having already confirmed that his time in the Bundesliga is coming to an end.
"Flo is one of the top players in the world," the former Liverpool midfielder said in a press conference. "He is world-class. Flo has a very mature mind. The people around him, his parents, they want the best for him.
"They are in a very important moment of his career. Whatever he does, I am really close to Flo, and I will be happy for him.
"Let's wait a little bit. It's normal in football that there are rumors, especially with such a special player.
"There were rumors (in the past), there are rumors today, and there will be rumors in the future. You need to deal with them and not take them too seriously."
Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.
Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz. (Image: Jan Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen is supposedly expecting to lose Jeremie Frimpong this summer, with Liverpool said to be keen on snapping up the Dutch wing-back as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool is expected to make contact with the Bundesliga side shortly to confirm that it will be triggering the release clause written into Frimpong's contract, according to The Times. His exit clause is set at $39 million (£30 million).
According to Sky Germany, Bayer Leverkusen is resigned to losing the player because of the clause, which will leave it powerless to stand in the 24-year-old's way. He could have left last year but ended up staying put for another season.
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According to the German outlet BILD, Manchester City is also considering a move for Barcelona star Dani Olmo to bolster its attacking midfield department should Wirtz prove unattainable.
Morgan Gibbs-White, the Nottingham Forest ace, has also been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium after a stellar season with Nottingham Forest.
Arne Slot has Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott who can play as number 10s at the moment. Wirtz, though, would add even more attacking firepower at Anfield, and, crucially, some more creativity that could help compensate for losing Alexander-Arnold at the end of his contract.
While Real Madrid is already stacked in attack with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior — and with Rodrygo struggling to get the minutes in the team that he would like — it too could enter the Wirtz race. Alonso works with him at the moment and could attempt to take him with him to Spain, with a clear admiration for the star.