Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has said he has not advised Florian Wirtz on whether to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
The 22-year-old has attracted interest from Europe’s top sides this season, particularly Bayern Munich and Manchester City, with Real Madrid also reportedly keeping an eye on the situation.
However, it looks like Liverpool is set to win the race, with reports in Germany indicating that Arne Slot’s pitch to the player encouraged him to join the Premier League champions. There’s an increasing sense that Wirtz will be a Red this summer, especially following Liverpool’s reported club record bid for a package worth up to £109 million ($147M).
That would surely tempt Leverkusen to accept, a day after the club wished Jeremie Frimpong well as his move to Liverpool was secured.
Should Wirtz join Liverpool, the feeling in his homeland would be mixed on his departure. Non-Bayern fans will certainly be pleased that the German champions have poached another top Bundesliga talent.
There may also be intrigue about how Wirtz fits into Slot’s system; will he play as a midfielder, striker, or somewhere in between? But Bundesliga fans will invariably be disappointed to see a top talent depart.
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz has been voted Bundesliga Player of the Season in each of the last two years.
As for his international manager, whether he has a preference or not, Nagelsmann was giving little away on Friday when speaking at a press conference.
“I've never told a player to move here or there,” the Germany manager said ahead of this weekend’s game against Portugal,
“What's important is that he plays - and plays a similarly important role to the one he played in Leverkusen. We know that he's one of the best players in the world.”
Florian Wirtz's preferred destination is City, according to reports
Wirtz has earned 29 international caps already. (Image: Getty)
Wirtz has played 29 times for Germany - an impressive tally for a player of his age - and has scored six times, including twice at last summer’s European Championships.
The Levekusen star missed Germany’s last two games through suspension, but prior to that, had played in 25 of the previous 26. That run included all of the matches at Euro 2024 and in the Nations League group stage.
The international scene has also showcased Wirtz’s versatility. He has been selected from the right and left wing for Germany, plus as a no.10 behind the striker.
He is expected to again play an important role in the Nations League finals. Germany will face Portugal in the semi-finals on Wednesday evening, and the winner will take on Spain or France in the final at Bayern’s Allianz Arena on Sunday.