Florian Wirtz appears convinced about joining Liverpool after holding talks with the club and manager Arne Slot, with four key factors said to have swayed the Bayer Leverkusen gem
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Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz with head coach Xabi Alonso.
Florian Wirtz has been convinced to join Liverpool after speaking with the club
(Image: Jorg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
After engaging in talks with Florian Wirtz, Liverpool are on course to win the race for the player's signature. The Reds are now the clear favourites to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star, provided they can negotiate a deal with his club, who are demanding up to £126million.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich were keen on signing the German from their rivals, but Wirtz is no longer interested in joining Vincent Kompany's team. Manchester City were also in the running but supposedly withdrew after reportedly baulking at the financial demands of a potential deal.
It's fortunate then that Wirtz is now ready to be a part of Arne Slot's project after meeting with Liverpool. The Times reported on the outcome of those discussions, which are believed to have convinced the young talent that his development would be best served at Anfield, where Slot can continue helping to improve his game.
Wirtz is also said to have been left impressed by the ambition shown by the current Premier League champions, who are aiming to build on the solid foundations laid by Slot in his first season in England. And another advantage for Wirtz is that Slot recognises his adaptability – a trait that has proved critical for numerous stars at Anfield. He's done similar with players like Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo, who have all played in multiple positions this season.
Plus, it seems Wirtz will have a familiar face on Merseyside in Jeremie Frimpong, who's set to make his own summer move from Leverkusen to Liverpool.
Despite being in the European limelight for several years and already being a key player for his national team, it's easy to forget Wirtz is only 22. He made history back in 2020 as Leverkusen's youngest-ever player and the Bundesliga's youngest scorer at just 17.
This season, the young star has netted 16 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. Only Bayern's Michael Olise matched him in the Bundesliga for double digits in both goals and assists, while just four other players had more direct goal involvements, three of whom are strikers.
Florian Wirtz of Leverkusen looks on during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at BayArena
Wirtz has been one of the Bundesliga's standout talents for years now(Image: Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
However, Wirtz is far from reaching his full potential, and that vision of what lies ahead is a crucial part of Liverpool's allure. Firstly, in terms of his personal development, but also how the club has seemingly convinced him of their broader ambitions.
The current Liverpool squad is peppered with talents who joined the club in their early 20s and have since soared to new heights. Players like Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai all transferred to Anfield at similar stages in their careers and are now integral parts of the team, not forgetting homegrown stars such as Curtis Jones and Conor Bradley.
Given this track record of nurturing young talent, it's logical for Wirtz to see how this could benefit him. This also ties into the broader vision at Anfield, which puts the club in a strong position for future success.
In terms of playing style, there are several positions where Wirtz could fit under Slot, although it may take some time to identify his best role. Xabi Alonso primarily used Wirtz as a No. 10 during his tenure at Leverkusen, but the player has also shone on both flanks and even as a false nine.
Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen celebrates after scoring the first goal with Jeremie Frimpong
Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong - who is on the verge of joining Liverpool - are close friends
This same openness to experimentation has seen players like Diaz, Jota and Gakpo thrive on Merseyside. Plus, Slot has demonstrated his ability to deploy these players outside their usual roles while still achieving success, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Lastly, Liverpool's pursuit of Dutch full-back Frimpong is almost as significant. The Manchester City academy graduate is close to returning to England after passing his medical ahead of a £30million move.
The Times highlighted the bond between Wirtz and Frimpong over recent years, noting how they often sat together in the dressing room. Frimpong, 24, even used to give Wirtz lifts to training before the latter passed his driving test, and such a strong relationship could certainly prove extremely beneficial at Anfield, both on and off the pitch.
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