Lewis Steele: “Are you excited for Liverpool, Florian?” | OneFootball

Florian Wirtz and Liverpool: A £100m Gamble Worth Making

Wirtz Fever Takes Over Munich

There are those in football who flirt with greatness and those who walk up and claim it. Florian Wirtz, at just 22, is already being spoken of in the hushed, reverent tones usually reserved for the world’s elite. A £100million price tag? In today’s transfer market, that doesn’t sound unreasonable. In fact, after watching him in Germany’s 2-1 Nations League semi-final defeat to Portugal, it almost sounds like a bargain.

Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail summed up the scene with detail and texture: “Mail Sport lingered in the muggy mixed zone – the area where players leave the ground and try their best to avoid reporters hungry for a quote or two – inside the Allianz Arena for about an hour waiting for Wirtz…” And linger they did, for a passing nod that set Liverpool Twitter alight.

“‘Are you excited for Liverpool, Florian?’” Steele asked. “He shot a glance in our direction and nodded.” A gesture that sent shockwaves. Was it confirmation? A mere courtesy? A subtle clue from the Cologne prodigy? You decide. But one thing’s certain—Wirtz didn’t dismiss it.

What Liverpool See in Wirtz

Liverpool have made a habit of precision in the transfer market, often buying players on the rise rather than the peak. Wirtz is a continuation of that philosophy. The club are reportedly in advanced talks to break their transfer record—beyond the £109m mark turned down previously. Those close to the negotiations say it’s “99 per cent done.”

Crucially, as Steele points out, “Wirtz wants the move. Liverpool want the move. Take those two things together and it usually leads to a done deal.”

And what exactly are they buying?

For starters, a player who contributed 15 goals and 16 assists this season. The year before, he posted 18 goals and 20 assists as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga unbeaten and lifted the German Cup. Those are not just stats—they’re statements.

Then there’s the versatility. Wirtz drifted from the left into central areas against Portugal, constantly scanning space, linking play, and drawing defenders like a magnet. Arne Slot reportedly sees him as a No. 10—a creator-in-chief—but his ability to float wide or drop deep will give Liverpool the kind of tactical flexibility they’ve missed since Coutinho.

“He can control the game and the rhythm,” said Maximilian Koch, chief reporter for Abendzeitung. “He reminds me of Andres Iniesta, a very intelligent and creative player.”

Germany’s Next Icon, Anfield’s New Star?

The adoration Wirtz commands in Germany borders on feverish. Replica kits with his name were the most common sight outside the Allianz. And the fans? Unapologetically smitten.

“‘Florian Wirtz is the best player in the world,’” declared one Borussia Dortmund fan wearing a Wirtz No. 17 shirt. “‘He is the best motherf***ing player in the world, sorry for my bad English!’”

Another chimed in: “His dribbling is amazing, he is fantastic, technically good… I think he can win the Ballon d’Or in the next few years.”

This is no cult following—it’s a movement. As fellow expert Heiko Niedderer put it, “Wirtz is maybe even more complete now. He can do everything. He is really great on the ball, a great shooter, creating chances.”

Add to that his off-the-ball work rate, his intelligence in positioning, and an eye for the unexpected—like his Kevin De Bruyne-esque cross early in the match—and Liverpool fans have every right to be excited.

Personality, Purpose and the Premier League

Beyond the numbers, Wirtz is a player of rare substance. Described as quiet, clever, and “a cool guy,” he doesn’t seek the spotlight but never shrinks from it. He’s one of ten siblings, grounded, unpretentious. Viral videos in Germany even show him ranking potato types with deadpan humour—“potato boy,” some now call him, much to his quiet dismay.

His girlfriend, Aaliyah, a model, stays out of the limelight. His best mate, Jeremie Frimpong, has already made the jump to Liverpool. And house-hunting in Cheshire suggests that Wirtz isn’t just flirting with Merseyside—he’s ready to commit.

What’s more telling is his decision not to go to Bayern Munich, who offered more money. As Niedderer explains: “I must say I was quite surprised he chose Liverpool… Bayern would have been a smaller step. Liverpool is a big step. I think it will do him really well.”

It’s a risk, yes. The Premier League is less forgiving than the Bundesliga. But the greats—Thierry Henry, Eden Hazard, even Kevin De Bruyne—have all needed a proving ground. If Wirtz replicates his Bundesliga form in England, £100m will feel like a footnote in history.

Closing Thoughts: More Than a Nod

So was that nod in Munich a confirmation? Not officially. But body language sometimes speaks louder than words. And in this case, as Steele notes, “at least he did not shoot down talk of Liverpool.”

In Wirtz, Liverpool aren’t just buying a player. They’re buying into a new era. Post-Klopp, post-Firmino, post-Henderson, the Reds are building something new under Arne Slot. They need a lodestar. Wirtz could be that.

He has the technique of a playmaker, the work rate of a Klopp-era winger, and the footballing IQ of a much older head. Combine that with ambition, humility, and a hunger for greatness, and you’ve got the kind of player that doesn’t just raise a team—he redefines it.

As Jurgen Klopp once said: “It’s not so important what people think when you come in… it’s much more important what people think when you leave.”

If Florian Wirtz walks through the doors at Anfield this summer, something tells us he’ll leave with legend status.