‘I’ve been told’ – Romano drops intriguing claim about Liverpool goal; Klopp is said to be ‘a huge fan

‘I’ve been told’ – Romano drops intriguing claim about Liverpool goal; Klopp is said to be ‘a huge fan’

Fabrizio Romano said of Florian Wirtz’s likely next destination that “Liverpool will have to be kept in mind”.

The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder is also of interest to La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, according to the Italian, who added that Jurgen Klopp would be ‘a big fan’ of the 19-year-old.

However, the reporter mitigates the likelihood of the teenager leaving the Bundesliga club this summer.

On his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Florian Wirtz, I can tell you that Barcelona are definitely following the player. Also Real Madrid. “But I’ve been told English clubs are also eyeing Wirtz, especially Liverpool’s situation to keep an eye on. Liverpool are eyeing the player and I have been told that Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of Florian Wirtz.

“I say monitor and not negotiate, because the expectation around Wirtz and Bayer Leverkusen is that the player will stay for another year and maybe leave in 2024.”

The 19-year-old is by no means a newcomer to the Liverpool rumour, with former international Karl-Heinz Korbel saying in January 2022 that the teenager would “adjust well” at Anfield (according to Sport.de).

The Reds could capitalize on their connections with current Wirtz manager Xabi Alonso, although the 41-year-old also has links to another Real Madrid suitor.

The attacking midfielder made 91 appearances for Leverkusen’s first team despite his tender age (Transfermarkt) and would certainly be a centurion by now had he not suffered a cruciate ligament injury that will see him sidelined for much of 2022. He could be the kind of dynamic presence to revitalize Liverpool’s midfield, having already scored 49 goals for his club (Transfermarkt), while also ranking in the top 1% of players at his position for assists in the five top European leagues over the past year (according to FBref).

Wirtz is clearly a wanted man after Romano’s update and with him likely to stay in Germany for at least a year, he could be on the priority list at Anfield as Klopp and FSG instead focus on goals that would be more achievable for this summer.

Still, he could be worth keeping an eye on for the long haul as a potential contributor to a likely Merseyside midfield overhaul.