Bayer Leverkusen will demand a staggering £125 million for Florian Wirtz if Premier League giants Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur or Newcastle United come calling before 2024, as reported by BILD.
Imagine the worst Sunday of your life.
Perhaps your accumulator collapsed at the very last moment. Maybe you had one Guinness too many. And, just to top it all, you’re out of milk. But times that frustration by a thousand and you’ll start to understand how Bayer Leverkusen supporters were feeling.
Losing 1-0 at home to your local rivals is one thing is bad enough. But, during that most frustrating of defeats to near neighbours Koln, Gerardo Seoane’s side suffered not one but two devastating injury blows.
Will Florian Wirtz leave Bayer Leverkusen for Liverpool or Tottenham?
Jeremie Frimpong, the former Celtic flyer-turned-Bayern Munich transfer target, has been ruled out for the rest of the season. At least he should be back by the time 2022/23 begins.
That is more than can be said for Florian Wirtz.
After tearing his cruciate ligament against Koln, an 18-year-old forward tipped to become ‘the best player in Germany ever’ will be out of action for a number of months, putting his participation in the Qatar World Cup in serious doubt.
Not that the first major pothole in Wirtz’s footballing journey has affected his transfer value.
“We try to keep him as long as possible,” says Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro. “Not only until 2023, but at least until 2024. I assume that he will not leave before 2024.
“We try everything to keep the best young players.”
The world’s best teenager?
Liverpool, Tottenham and a nouveau-riche Newcastle United are all reportedly interested in an obscenely gifted footballer who, at just 18, is already a talismanic presence at one of Germany’s biggest clubs (BILD).
The snake-hipped, twinkle-toed Wirtz had contributed 24 goals and assists in 31 games before Koln arrived at the Bay Arena last weekend.
There’s a reason why Hansi Flick, the Germany manager, describes the teenager as an ‘outstanding’ talent.
According to BILD, Leverkusen are so determined to retain Wirtz’s services for another two years that, should Tottenham, Liverpool or Newcastle come calling, they will demand an eye-watering fee of £125 million.
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