Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen prodigy Florian Wirtz who is also wanted by Arsenal and Manchester City.
According to Sport BILD journalist Christian Falk, Liverpool have thrown their hat in the ring for the potential signing of Bayer Leverkusen and German teenage sensation Florian Wirtz, who is also being chased by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.
The 18-year-old Wirtz came through the youth ranks at 1. FC Koln, whom he joined in 2010. While he never made a senior appearance for the Billygoats, his immense potential prompted Bayer Leverkusen to take a punt on him in January last year. And the move has paid off handsomely as Wirtz has gone on to fill the hole left by Kai Havertz’s departure to Chelsea.
To date, the teenage attacking midfielder has made 53 appearances for Die Werkself, bagging 14 goals and 12 assists in the process. Wirtz has made a particularly explosive start to the 2021/22 campaign, having already plundered five goals and four assists in just four games across all competitions.
The 18-year-old was part of the German Under-21 national team that lifted the UEFA Under-21 European Championships this summer. In fact, Wirtz even made his senior breakthrough for Die Mannschaft earlier this month, featuring three times. His rapid rise to prominence with club and country has made the who’s who of Europe sit up and take notice, with Liverpool the latest club expressing an interest.
Liverpool have lacked the presence of a proper attacking midfielder within the squad since the departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in 2018. And signing someone like Wirtz could help Jurgen Klopp & co. fill that void, potentially allowing the club to switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The 18-year-old can also be an additional option on the flanks as well, considering that both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are nearing their thirties. However, Liverpool will have to battle with title rivals Manchester City for the signing of the German international. While the Cityzens are not lacking in options in the attacking midfield area, there have been question marks raised over the futures of some players.
Bernardo Silva seems to be keen on an exit amid interest from Barcelona while Raheem Sterling has also been linked with a move away amidst diminishing importance within the squad in recent months. This could open up the space for another attacking addition at the Etihad despite the presence of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden & co., making Wirtz a viable option.
Apart from Liverpool and Manchester City, Arsenal too have shown an interest in the 18-year-old Bayer Leverkusen starlet. Mikel Arteta is building a young core of players at the Emirates, with Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard seemingly at the centre of his plans. And adding another special talent like Wirtz into the mix would elevate the quality of the squad.
Beyond the three clubs mentioned, the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all been credited with some interest in the German sensation. It remains to be seen if the youngster decides to leave Bayer Leverkusen in the near future.
