The Bundesliga has another rising star who has people talking. The German top flight seems to have a new wonderkid making waves every week. So, who is Florian Wirtz?
Florian Wirtz bio
18-years-old and born in Germany, Florian Wirtz plays as an attacking midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen.
A product of the Koln academy he joined the Leverkusen youth set up in 2020.
Florian Wirtz position and stats
Most commonly used as an attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz can also operate as a holding midfielder or in the dead centre.
The German wonderkid has also been deployed on the right wing on occasion.
At the time of writing he has two goals and three assists in his first three Bundesliga games this season.
Last term he made 25 starts in the league having stepped up following the departure of Kai Havertz.
Comparisons and tributes
Icon of German football Lothar Mätthaus has heaped praise on the wonderkid in the past, describing Florian Wirtz as ‘the second Kai Havertz’.
Former Koln academy director Jörg Jakobs said that the teenager ‘can do everything’.
Describing the wonderkid’s playstyle Jakobs continued:
“He’s playful, has great technique, incredible game intelligence, is fast with the ball and is a great dribbler. If he stays fit, he’s at least in the same category as Havertz.”
Transfer news
Naturally there is plenty of interest in the youngster.
Any player starting the Bundesliga season the way he has at his age is worthy of talking about.
According to The Express, Premier League clubs want to sign Florian Wirtz.
Inevitably, Bayern Munich are also believed to be in contention for the player’s signature.
However, there is no release clause in the player’s contract which runs until 2026.
As a result Bayer Leverkusen will be able to demand a lofty fee for the teenager.
Just how lofty is anybody’s guess but if he continues to develop the way he has recently then they’ll surely be looking for something close to the enormous fee which saw Kai Havertz join Chelsea.
It may be a case of who moves first and who has the most money.
The summer of 2022 may be a bit too early for him, another year with Bayer Leverkusen would be important for him.
2023 is a more likely transfer window for him to secure his inevitable big money move away.
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