Liverpool’s owners are wasting no time in arming Arne Slot with a summer war chest, as the Reds look to build on their 20th Premier League title triumph. Deals for Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez look all but done, and the rumour mill is spinning faster with talk of Florian Wirtz potentially joining the ranks.
After taking their hands out of their pockets for just one signing last summer - Federico Chiesa from Juventus for just £12.5 million - Fenway Sports Group now seem reinvigorated, believing that another golden era is on the horizon, just a year removed from Jurgen Klopp’s emotional farewell. Snatching Bayer Leverkusen’s main creative force would be a massive statement of intent, though it’s expected to set the club back around £100 million.
Excitement around the possibility has reached fever pitch, with the Anfield faithful already doing their homework on the German prodigy. Perhaps the clearest glimpse came when Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen travelled to Merseyside earlier this season. While the visitors were soundly beaten 4-0 courtesy of a Luis Diaz hat-trick, Wirtz still managed to impress, proving that even in defeat, class is permanent.
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Wirtz's 24/25 Stats Compared to Jones & Szoboszlai's as Liverpool Eye Leverkusen Star
Arne Slot's Liverpool have entered the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen hotshot Florian Wirtz and have made contact with his representatives.
Florian Wirtz's Highlights Against Liverpool Re-emerge
Liverpool fans are relishing the possibility of him joining Arne Slot's side
Florian Wirtz during a pre-match warm-up with Bayer Leverkusen
Arguably, the standout area of Liverpool’s system under Slot in his maiden voyage was the midfield. Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai - final summer signings of the Klopp era - all came to life under their new Dutch helmsman. Yet, there’s still a lingering sense that a true creative number 10 is the missing puzzle piece.
That’s where Florian Wirtz steps in. With 21 goals and 23 assists in 63 Bundesliga appearances over the last two seasons, he brings both sparkle and substance. Even when the script doesn’t favour his side - a rarity, considering Liverpool’s 4-0 drubbing of Leverkusen in November was just their second loss in 18 months - Wirtz finds ways to shine. He’s the kind of player who can pull strings in a tangle and make magic in the margins. Watch his re-emerging highlights from back then below:
It's one thing shining when your team is doing well, but it's a completely different ball game impressing when suffering a heavy defeat. But the re-emerging highlights have certainly struck a chord with Liverpool supporters, as one X user remarked: "Silky smooth footballer' He rarely makes a mistake," while a second continued:
"They [Bayer Leverkusen] didn't trouble us at all, but he still impressed me."
A third user wrote: "Wirtz could start games for us as a left wing but with a free role", while a fourth suggested: "People keep talking about him at 10 but honestly his best position with us is upfront/false 9."