Liverpool are 'adamant' that recent transfer speculation linking Florian Wirtz with Real Madrid 'holds no substance', according to reports from TEAMtalk. Club sources reportedly consider the 22-year-old German playmaker to be 'untouchable' ahead of future transfer windows.
The renewed speculation comes after Wirtz's agent Volker Struth claimed last month that his 'wish' is for the 22-year-old to play for Real Madrid. In a Bild interview, Struth revealed he contacted Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez during last summer's transfer window, telling Perez: 'I have a player here whom I would highly recommend'.
Wirtz, only 22, was signed as part of Liverpool's long-term vision rather than a short-term gamble when he joined from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116m deal eight months ago. The playmaker's scoring return of six goals from 37 games might be underwhelming compared to pre-season expectations, but he scored his first Liverpool goal just after Christmas and has since improved significantly.
Club insiders have reportedly stressed that Wirtz is 'central' to the Reds' long-term project, with sources suggesting it would make little sense for Liverpool to contemplate a sale after such a short period. Wirtz signed a five-year contract with Liverpool, tying him to Anfield until at least 2030.
