Manchester United’s reluctance to sign Florian Wirtz during Ralf Rangnick’s tenure at the club may now come back to bite them with Liverpool given a reported ‘guarantee’ over potential talks. Wirtz was seen as Rangnick’s top target for the January transfer window in 2022, but United opted against making any signings that month to the frustration of the Austrian.
Wirtz, then 18 years of age, had stepped up as Kai Havert’s replacement and was impressing for Bayer Leverkusen. He’s continued that form this season and has played a key role in Xabi Alonso’s side sitting top of the Bundesliga after nine games.
He was rewarded with a bumper new contract just this past summer, but Wirtz’s performances are already alerting some of Europe’s elite clubs. According to the Star on Sunday, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are ‘at the front of the queue to sign the attacker’.
But the report adds that Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Wirtz and Jurgen Klopp’s influence may help their chances. It’s claimed that Liverpool are ‘guaranteed’ to be ‘genuine contenders’ due to Klopp’s contacts in German football.
A move in January is ruled out, but the report indicates a transfer battle could emerge next summer with a bid of £80million needed to test Leverkusen’s resolve. Liverpool’s interest in Wirtz is reportedly linked to Salah’s future at the club with Saudi Arabia expected to try again and lure the Egyptian away from Anfield.
But United will reportedly have no hope of entering the battle to sign Wirtz next summer as the versatile attacker is said to feel he has ‘better options than Old Trafford’. It’s suggested that Rangnick’s exit last year wrecked any chances of United being a realistic option for Wirtz.
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With United seemingly out of the way, Liverpool may fancy their chances of beating City, Bayern and Chelsea to the signature of Wirtz. If Salah does leave for Saudi Arabia then Klopp will likely be given the funds necessary to sign their top target as the Egyptian’s replacement.
Wirtz appears to be the man Liverpool want to fill Salah’s shoes and it’s easy to see why. At just 20 years of age, Wirtz is already an established superstar in world football with an ACL injury keeping him from making his World Cup debut in 2022.
He returned from his long injury lay-off earlier this year and has continued his impressive development. Alonso has also experimented with Wirtz out wide and up front, giving Klopp an example of what he could expect at Anfield.
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