Florian Wirtz might leave Liverpool, as a surprising Premier League club is interested in signing him.
Florian Wirtz might have a surprising exit from Liverpool after just one season, as another Premier League team is interested in signing him.
Wirtz moved to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer for an initial £107 million. However, the German star had a tough first season, scoring only five goals and providing four assists in the league.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Wirtz admitted that adjusting to the fast and physical style of English football was challenging. He said, “At Leverkusen, I had more time on the ball and could turn easily. Here, you need to be ready immediately because if not, there are three players on you, and it’s very physical — that’s a big difference.”
Many Liverpool fans felt that Wirtz struggled partly because of the tactics used by former manager Arne Slot. Liverpool had a rough season and just managed to finish fifth, earning a spot in the Champions League. Slot was dismissed last month.
New manager Andoni Iraola might give Wirtz a fresh start when he returns from the World Cup. But Liverpool could also see this as a chance to let him go. According to Football Insider, Chelsea and their new coach Xabi Alonso are big fans of Wirtz and see him as a key part of their upcoming rebuild.
Chelsea had a bad season, missing out on European football and changing coaches twice. Alonso’s hiring is a fresh start for the club, which has already sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid. If Enzo Fernandez also leaves for Madrid, Chelsea could push hard to sign Wirtz.
Alonso and Wirtz know each other well, as Alonso was Wirtz’s coach at Leverkusen for three seasons, including when they won the Bundesliga in 2024.
One person still backing Wirtz is former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. Speaking as a World Cup pundit after Germany’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, Klopp gave advice on how to get the best from Wirtz. He suggested that instead of expecting Wirtz to create plays from deep, the team should let him shine further up the field.
“Wirtz finds his rhythm when he gets the ball often,” Klopp said. “It’s important to involve him so he feels confident and comfortable. He shouldn’t drop back too far to get the ball; we need to find ways to use his positioning because he opens up lots of space for teammates and full-backs to make runs.”