Liverpool to REPEAT Florian Wirtz trick in deal for latest Bundesliga wonderkid | OneFootball

Last summer Liverpool shocked the world by pulling of a British record deal for Florian Wirtz.

A hero of Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal wins, the 22-year-old emerged as one of the most in-demand playmakers on the planet.

Liverpool would have to go head-to-head with some of the biggest teams in European football for Wirtz’s signature - with Real Madrid and Manchester City also determined to strike a deal.

Liverpool convince Wirtz... can they repeat the magic?

Arne Slot won the Germany international over with his tactical plan - and the club agreed a five-year contract.

Sporting director Richard Hughes concluded the coup by paying Leverkusen a fee that could reach £116m overall. And it looks like the Premier League title-holders are going to have to do it all over again.

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Because one of the biggest emerging stars in the Bundesliga this season is the subject of interest from Anfield as well as Manchester City.

Liverpool watching rising star El Mala

Said El Mala is the breakout star of the German season thus far - scoring four goals and adding two assists for FC Koln. The 19-year-old is most comfortable on the left wing but can also play on the right as well as in attacking midfield.

El Mala recently made the step up from Germany’s under-21 side to the senior team - sitting on the bench for their FIFA World Cup qualification match against Luxembourg.

His form has attracted the attention of several major top clubs in the Premier League - with Football Insider now revealing that City are the latest name in the frame.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Said El Mala (@said.elmala)

Liverpool must beat City to El Mala

“Man City are the latest Premier League giant to register a concrete interest in signing Koln starlet Said El Mala following his impressive start to the 2025-26 season,” the report reads.

“Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea were keeping tabs on El Mala after his strong start to the campaign.”

El Mala was originally signed by Koln from regional rivals Viktoria Koln in 2024 - staying on loan with his original club for the 2024/25 season.

But the two-footed attacker has not looked back since commencing his Bundesliga career and looks set to become a major name in the transfer market next summer.

He is under contract at Koln until 2030 - meaning any interested clubs are going to have to pay top dollar. But having beaten City to the punch for Wirtz, there is no reason to believe Richard Hughes and Liverpool can’t do it once more.