A closer look at Florian Wirtz's situation as Liverpool continue to watch on
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Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on
Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The news that Manchester City have withdrawn from the race to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer won't have immediately moved the goalposts at Liverpool.
Anfield chiefs had spoken last week that while there is admiration for the Germany international, they still expect him to remain in his homeland by either staying with Leverkusen - to help guide them through a post-Xabi Alonso world - or move to Bayern Munich and become the latest in a long line of Bundesliga stars who moved to the biggest club in the division when the opportunity arose.
But the City insistence that they are now out of the running for the 22-year-old means Liverpool, as it stands, have something of a free run for the creative and versatile attacker, should he decide that a move to England might appeal.
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Despite the private belief of those with knowledge of the situation at Liverpool that Bayern are leading the chase, reports in Germany believe it far more difficult to predict, with one publication this week describing the "poker game" as being "completely open".
The were contrasting reports last week about just who Wirtz, mother Karrin and father and agent Hans were in England to meet with. Some suggested the Leverkusen star was given a guided tour of the Manchester City facilities with the blessing of his club, while it was also claimed that it was in fact Liverpool officials who met with Wirtz, at Blackpool airport.
That theory has been discredited privately at Anfield but it was interesting to note Bayern board member Uli Hoeness name-drop the Premier League champions in a conversation about Wirtz last week.
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"You've been writing nonsense for weeks about him going to Manchester City, even though he was at Liverpool!" snapped the long-serving Hoeness. "We'll provide you with facts at some point, not more speculation."
That led to former winger Ryan Babel sharing his thoughts, with the Dutchman posting: “Bayern director basically admitting Wirtz was actually in Liverpool?? This window is already wild and Slot’s just getting started.”
Leverkusen themselves are insistent that they are relaxed about the situation. With Wirtz under contract until 2027, the 2024 Bundesliga champions see no pressure to offload their crown jewel this summer, particularly given vaunted coach Alonso is departing and Jeremie Frimpong will also leave to join the Reds after completing a medical.
Bayer are currently surveying the coaching landscape as they go about replacing Alonso, who was a spectacular success at the BayArena, and Cesc Fabregas at Como and former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag are two believed to be under consideration.
As a result, Wirtz's future is not the overriding priority in Leverkusen right now, with sporting director Simon Rolfes indicating as such after the recent draw with Mainz.
"We have no stress or time pressure. He is under contract with us and also until 2027," Rolfes said. The B04 chief is also quoted as saying recently: "What is being circulated in the media is one thing. We have a very trusting relationship with Florian and his family.
"He is a Leverkusen player. We are fighting to ensure that he is the same next year. We have clear statements from the family. That's why we're relaxed. We know that there is a lot of interest and that it is still an open topic."
The opportunity to have the new coach build around Wirtz for the long term remains the goal of Leverkusen but should the Germany star agitate to leave, the Bundesliga side will surely extol the virtues of a move to the Premier League, away from the clutches of Bayern, who have a long history of cherry picking the leading lights of their rivals.
Managing director Fernando Carro says: "With Florian it's like this: The important thing is, regardless of whether the solution is to stay here or somewhere else, we all have to feel comfortable."
Alonso is expected to succeed Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid and while he has not confirmed a gentleman's agreement that he will steer clear of raiding his former club, the former Liverpool midfielder insists "there is no need for a promise" over poaching Leverkusen's best talent, like Wirtz. "Flo, definitely, he's now one of the best players in the world," according to his former boss.
If Wirtz is keen on finding out more about the traditions and pageantry that surround Bayern and Liverpool, though, he has the perfect sounding board in Alonso, who represented both with distinction during one of the finest and most decorated playing careers of the 21st century.
A Champions League and FA Cup winner with the Reds in 2005 and 2006, respectively, Alonso also lifted three Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal while in Bavaria, leaving him almost uniquely positioned to advise his now former player.
"Flo is very mature," Alonso said at his last press conference as Leverkusen boss. "I believe that the people around him, his parents, want the best for him and that they are at a very important moment in his career.
"Whatever he does, I'm very close to Flo and I'll be happy for him. So let's wait a little longer. It's normal for there to be rumours in football, and with such a special player, there will be rumours in the future. So you have to deal with them and not take them too seriously."
Leverkusen would like to extend the contract of their playmaker but will demand an enormous transfer fee if they cannot retain him. The messaging coming out of Munich, however, has been mixed where Wirtz is concerned.
Undoubtedly he has been earmarked as a key player for the long term but having committed three new contracts in 2025 for high-earning stars like Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich, there is some speculation about the ability to finance the sort of deal that forced even Manchester City away from the table at a time when they are seeking an heir to Kevin De Bruyne's throne.
Reports in Germany have claimed Musiala will earn around £21m a year while Kimmich's new terms are around £16m annually. Canada left-back Davies also saw an increase with his deal to take him to a reported figure of around a similar figure.
Bayern's accounts for 2023/24, however, saw them post a turnover of somewhere around the £850m mark, meaning they have been comfortable to reward three of their big names with improved contracts.
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"If we wanted the player, then we would have to think about financing," Hoeness, Bayern's honorary president, was quoted as saying in March. "Our fixed-term deposit account is no longer as generous as it used to be.
"We have already proven in the case of Harry Kane that we can go to the limits. And if we are convinced of a player that he would really improve FC Bayern a lot, then we would try to do our homework."
Various reports in German media have stated Wirtz and his family will take their time assessing their next move and the Instagram post of poolside image with a charged battery emoji was an indication of the player himself getting ready to rest ahead of the pre-season schedule. The Liverpool transfer target will have plenty to mull over from his sun lounger this summer.