Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso may have given the clearest indication that Florian Wirtz could yet be a Liverpool player.
The 22-year-old has been linked with a sensational €150million ($168M) move to Merseyside, less than 24 hours after it was claimed he met Manchester City to negotiate a possible transfer. Now, it seems his intention for traveling to England with his parents was to discuss a potential switch to Liverpool.
Reports in Germany claim the Wirtz family met Liverpool representatives in Blackpool on Tuesday with Liverpool now very much in the mix to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star.
However, just last week it was reported that Wirtz’s move to Bayern Munich was all but secured. That dominated the agenda as Alonso announced last Friday that he is set to step down as Leverkusen coach.
During that press conference, it was put to Alonso that Wirtz could be set to depart as well and head to the new Bundesliga champions.
“Florian Wirtz didn’t tell me that he only wants to go to Bayern… this is not my information,” he replied, putting to bed reports that terms with the Bavarian side.
Wirtz, who helped guide Leverkusen to the German title last season, has played 196 times for the club. That includes 44 this term, from which he has provided 16 goals and 15 assists.
Liverpool has previously been linked with a move for Wirtz, but those rumors went cold in the latter months of the Jurgen Klopp era.
He ultimately remained at Leverkusen but interest has increased this summer given the player has just two years left on his contract.
Now, Liverpool could be his next destination. A report from David Ornstein in The Athletic, claimed Liverpool has “made contact” with the player’s representatives to see if the player is keen on a move to the Reds.
“Should this emerge as a genuine possibility, the Premier League champions would be ready to explore a deal and that is why they are one of the clubs in touch with his camp about the situation,” the report adds.
Wirtz and his Leverkusen teammates – including Jeremie Frimpong – face one more match this weekend, when it takes on Mainz.
