Richard Hughes takes Florian Wirtz sale decision as Real Madrid come forward | OneFootball

Liverpool paid a fee that could reach £116m to sign Florian Wirtz last summer.

The German international, 22, came on board from Bayer Leverkusen - with whom he’d won the 2023/24 league and cup double in an unbeaten season.

Wirtz was installed as the new forward centrepiece - with Arne Slot making it clear to the playmaker that the entire attack would be built around him as a No10.

That promise was enough to steer Wirtz away from Manchester City and Real Madrid - signing a five-year deal at Anfield.

It’s fair to say it’s been a difficult settling-in period for Wirtz - who has four goals and three assists in the Premier League.

Right now he’s not putting in the kind of numbers Liverpool would have expected on a regular basis.

Real Madrid seeking to strike Wirtz deal

And that difficulty has opened the door to a potential move to Real Madrid. It’s no secret that Los Blancos are in love with Wirtz - having come close under Xabi Alonso to securing his signature.

Despite his adaptation process taking longer than expected Liverpool have NO plans to sell him in the off-season - and look set to stick by Wirtz for the long term.

That’s according to a report in TEAMtalk - which claims that the Premier League champions believe that they have a Ballon d’Or winner in waiting.

Liverpool have no intention of selling Wirtz

“Insiders stress that Wirtz is central to the club’s project, describing him as ‘untouchable’ in any upcoming transfer window,” the report reads.

“Furthermore, optimism on the red half of Merseyside runs high about a player they believe has in no way, shape or form reached his full potential yet.

“[Wirtz] possesses the quality to challenge for the Ballon d’Or in the years ahead.”

No doubt Wirtz can and will improve over time. This is a transitional season for the Merseysiders amid so many changes in personnel.

Once those changes take full effect there’s no doubt that Wirtz will be heading for the very top.