Excitement over Florian Wirtz heading to Liverpool has reached fever pitch in recent days and the player's former coach has insisted the star has a lot to offer should he join the Reds
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz (centre) and Liverpool's Luis Diaz (centre) battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Anfield, Liverpool
Florian Wirtz could offer Liverpool a host of attributes should he sign for the Reds, according to one of his former managers
(Image: PA)
Liverpool will be getting a player with three "special" traits should they seal a deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, according to his former coach. Talk surrounding the young German star and a move to the Reds has accelerated in recent days.
While Liverpool continue to push for his signature, the 22-year-old has reportedly turned down interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City in favour of choosing Anfield as his next destination.
Liverpool are also said to have had a staggering £109million bid rejected by Leverkusen for the player. With negotiations believed to be underway, it remains to be seen whether Arne Slot will be able to land one of Europe's elite talents.
Ex-Germany Under-17 head coach Christian Wuck, who once managed Wirtz, has whet the appetite for fans by previously emphasising the youngster's unique abilities that he could bring to Anfield, which include two adept feet and a first-class application in training.
"Flo is incredibly intelligent," he told GOAL in 2020. "What makes him so special and what sets him apart from many other youth players is his excellent training in basic technology.
"He is two-footed and has incredibly good technique. He recognises situations on the field within a very short time and draws the right conclusions. "
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With Wirtz potentially heading to England to join the Premier League champions, comparisons have flown with his compatriot Kai Havertz.
Wirtz made history as Leverkusen's youngest-ever player in 2020 as he operated as Havertz's replacement at Leverkusen once the attacking midfielder joined Chelsea in the same year.
LYON, FRANCE - MARCH 23: Florian Wirtz celebrates with Kai Havertz of Germany after scoring his team's first goal during the international friendly match between France and Germany at Groupama Stadium on March 23, 2024 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
LYON, FRANCE - MARCH 23: Florian Wirtz celebrates with Kai Havertz of Germany after scoring his team's first goal during the international friendly match between France and Germany at Groupama Stadium on March 23, 2024 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz have played together internationally(Image: Getty Images)
The challenge of becoming a more than worthy replacement for Havertz, who was previously Leverkusen's youngest-ever player, ensured that Wirtz was to be heavily judged in the shadow of his international team-mate.
Talking to Sportbild back in 2021, he said the comparisons helped rather than hindering his progress. "It motivates me to be even better than Kai," he said. "I always want to be the best, and I hate losing. I've always been like this."
With Wirtz now looking like he could follow Havertz to English shores, comparisons have again flared. However, Wuck did signal caution against over-hyping the prodigy.
He had a simple piece of advice for Wirtz's future coaches, and with Slot supposedly offering him the freedom of the No. 10 role, it seems to have resonated. "A current top player in Germany. My tip: Just let the boy play," Wuck added.
Wirtz's potential transfer to Liverpool has grown from mere whispers to a full-blown saga in the last 10 days. German outlet BILD has claimed that he has agreed to a five-year deal with Liverpool, while Leverkusen are said to be holding out for closer to their €150m (approximately £125m) valuation.