Erik ten Hag has taken over as Bayer Leverkusen head coach amid Liverpool’s transfer pursuit of Florian Wirtz.
Erik ten Hag has suggested that it is unlikely Bayer Leverkusen will be able to keep hold of Florian Wirtz this summer as Liverpool aim to close the deal.
The Reds have emerged as frontrunners to sign the exciting 22-year-old this summer. It had been thought that Wirtz was bound to join Bayern Munich after plundering 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen. Last season, he was instrumental as Die Werkself claimed their maiden Bundesliga title without losing a game along with the DFB-Pokal.
What’s been said
Ten Hag was asked about Wirtz and called him a ‘super player’ but hinted it’s unlikely he will stay at the Bay Arena. "He's a super player," ten Hag said. "I've watched him and his development with great joy. Whether he'll stay, you never know."
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rofles has confessed that Liverpool are ‘very interested’ in signing Wirtz, who has two years remaining on his current contract. Rofles said: “He's still our player, but there's understandably a lot of interest in Florian. Liverpool is a team that's very interested in his services, but that's all I can say at the moment.”
Liverpool transfer plans
Slot admitted after Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Palace that ideally Liverpool will get their signings through the door early as they aim to defend the Premier League title.
“We just want good players and ideally you sign them as soon as you can,” said Slot. “But it's not always easy to sign good players, let alone to sign them early in the window. But this club doesn't start working from today onwards.
“There is so much hard work being done behind the scenes already this season to find out which targets we have and try to sign them. I have all the confidence that if we've addressed the right player that we try to sign that player. But let's see when that's going to happen and if that's going to happen because I'm very happy with the squad we already have.”
Continue Reading