Liverpool is being linked with moves for a couple of Bayer Leverkusen players this summer, with Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz both understood to be on the Reds’ wishlist.
Frimpong and Wirtz have emerged as two of the best players in the world in their respective positions, and are expected to leave Leverkusen for pastures new in the coming months.
Liverpool is in the market for a new right-back ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure at the end of the season, and a deal for Frimpong should be relatively easy to do considering his modest release clause, which sits at around $39 million.
Attackind midfielder Wirtz will not be so attainable, considering his lofty price tag, and also the amount of clubs that are interested in signing him, with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City being among them.
Should the unlikely happen and both players end up at Liverpool, though, their adaptations to their new surroundings would no doubt be made easier by the presence of a familiar face.
Frimpong and Wirtz have been teammates at Leverkusen for four years, and Frimpong, 24, has spoken extremely highly of the 22-year-old attacking midfielder.
“On a day-to-day basis, he’s (Wirtz) exactly how you see him on the pitch,” Frimpong said of Wirtz in 2023. “He is impressive. He plays like he’s been playing for 10 years. He’s intelligent. He’s also a great person.
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“He was the first one who took care of me when I arrived at the club: he was my first friend. Flo asked me about Celtic, invited me to his house, we would go out for dinner. He did things to make me feel at home.”
Recent reports in Germany claimed Wirtz traveled to England earlier this week for talks with both Manchester City and Liverpool, but Liverpool.com understands this information to be wide of the mark.
Liverpool.com understands Wirtz and his family did not meet anyone from Liverpool. The Reds do hold a long-standing interest in the Leverkusen star, who has already amassed nearly 200 appearances for the club, but the expectation is that the player will remain in Germany this summer.
Reports that Leverkusen has an asking price of €150 million ($183M) are likely to put off any would-be buyers. Certainly, Liverpool is unlikely to be in a position to match that fee.
Bayern Munich has a habit of hoovering up all the best German talent and it appears likely that Wirtz will make the move to Bavaria this summer if he does end up leaving Leverkusen.
