Aleix Garcia of Bayer 04 Leverkusen celebrates with Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen after scoring his team's fifth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Salzburg at BayArena
Aleix Garcia of Bayer 04 Leverkusen celebrates with Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen after scoring his team's fifth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Salzburg at BayArena
(Image: 2024 Rene Nijhuis/MB Media)
Bayer Leverkusen star Aleix Garcia has admitted he wants Florian Wirtz to join Liverpool - but only because of one specific reason. The Reds are currently in negotiations with the Bundesliga outfit regarding a potential club-record deal.
Liverpool have seen two bids rejected for Wirtz so far, with the latest worth £109m. But all sides still remain confident that a deal will be finalised this summer.
Bayern Munich had previously been the favourites to sign Wirtz if he decided to leave Leverkusen, only for the Reds to steal a march on the Bundesliga champions. Meanwhile, Man City had also previously withdrawn from the race for their longstanding transfer target.
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Garcia has backed Wirtz to be a success in the Premier League. And having already lost Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich, admits it is better for Leverkusen if Wirtz does not join a rival in the Bundesliga.
“Of course. It’s better not to have him (Wirtz) as a rival,” he said. “Tah has gone to Bayern, and if Wirtz were to leave, they’d also be almost unstoppable.
“I think he’ll go to England and make a difference. I wish him the best of luck because, apart from being a star, he’s a very good guy.”
Meanwhile, Garcia, who joined Leverkusen from Girona last summer, admitted he had initially been surprised by Wirtz during their year together at the club as he insisted the German is one of the 10 best players in the world.
“He is (as good as he seems). I spent a year with him, and I think he’s dazzling,” the former Man City midfielder told AS, as quoted by Sport Witness. “He has superior quality and is a game-changer.
“He’s also driven to improve every day and always be the best. He’s surprised and impressed me.
“He’s definitely in the top 10 in the world. I don’t know if he’s in the top five, but he’s definitely in the top 10. He has spectacular talent and a hunger to keep improving.”
Wirtz is currently away with the Germany national team as they prepare to host Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals on Wednesday night.
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann confirmed on Wednesday that Wirtz is set to play and insisted the German has not been impacted by the ongoing transfer saga.
"Flo will play,” he said. "I don't sense any fear of injury or anything with him. He's a competitor who wants to play and be successful with us.
"I didn't notice that the situation was bothering him. I think it's perfectly normal for every player, coach, whatever, to have one or two thoughts when a transfer is imminent. I think that's part of it."