Yahoo Sports Liverpool interest in €150m Germany sensation CONFIRMED as transfer chase hots up
Arne Slot's first transfer window as Liverpool head coach was fairly inactive on the incomings front.
Federico Chiesa was the only senior arrival this summer while the Reds also secured an agreement for talented goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili who will join Liverpool next summer.
Liverpool are already on the hunt for potential targets for the coming windows as Slot eyes up bolstering his squad.
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The Reds are believed to have been in attendance at Girona's Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain with Slot understood to be interested in midfielder Viktor Tsygankov and defender Miguel Gutierrez.
It's evident that Slot is keen to bolster his midfield ranks with Liverpool's hot pursuit of Martin Zubimendi this summer, who ultimately opted to stay put at his boyhood club Real Sociedad.
As Liverpool continue to be linked with midfielders, the latest report to surface links the Anfield side with one of Europe's most exciting prospects.
Liverpool want Wirtz
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are reportedly interested in Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.
Journalist Christian Falk states that to secure the highly-rated German international's services, it will come with a hefty fee.
It will take a seismic fee of £125.9 million to mount an attempt at coaxing the 21-year-old away from Bayer Leverkusen next year.
Liverpool have also been linked with Wirtz's Germany teammate Jamal Musiala in recent weeks, with the pair establishing themselves as two of Europe's most dangerous attacking midfielders.
10.02.2024, Leverkusen, Germany, BayArena, Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Bayern Muenchen - 1. Bundesliga, Jamal Musiala FC Bayern Muenchen und Florian Wirtz Bayer 04 Leverkusen im Zweikampf Foto Ralf Treese DFB / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO. Leverkusen BayArena North Rhine-Westphalia Germany *** 10 02 2024, Leverkusen, Germany, BayArena, Bayer Leverkusen vs FC Bayern Muenchen 1 Bundesliga, Jamal Musiala FC Bayern Muenchen and Florian Wirtz Bayer 04 Leverkusen in a duel Photo Ralf Treese DFB DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND OR QUASI VIDEO Leverkusen BayArena North Rhine Westphalia Germany / 521_LEVFCB20240210_130 / Treese-521
2025 could be a year of change for Wirtz
The report states that Wirtz is seemingly destined to take the next step of his footballing career in the summer of 2025 having made such ambitions ‘very clear’.
In a piece for The Daily Briefing, Falk outlined: "Florian Wirtz made it very clear that he wants to make the next step in 2025.
“He has a contract now until 2027, so Leverkusen want a big fee for his services – €150m. That’s a lot and obviously not every club can afford to pay this.
“The club leading the race for his signature is not an English one. It’s Real Madrid. This could form part of a package deal including Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, should the Spaniard be identified as Carlo Ancelotti’s potential successor next summer. It’s really good for Wirtz as he knows the coach and that he’d be well taken care of in Madrid.
“There’s still a little chance for Bayern Munich who have always been in contact with the player and his father, Hans-Joachim, who is also his agent. There’s a big dream for Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to play together at Bayern. I don’t think Real Madrid would be able to buy both players, whilst Bayern can only sign one.
“But, of course, he also fits other clubs like Manchester City. Liverpool are also interested and we talked about Manchester United not being in the race at the moment.”
Liverpool to focus on 'opportunistic' deals
Real Madrid currently remain Wirtz' most likely destination next summer, and Liverpool face competiton from fellow Premier League side Manchester City for the German's services too.
It can be argued that Liverpool should be prioritising other positions to bolster before bringing in an attacking midfielder.
But Richard Hughes made it very clear Liverpool will continue to take an opportunistic approach in the transfer market, and how many opportunities are more attractive than signing one of Europe's most exciting prodigies?
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