Wirtz's Contract Talks with Liverpool Clear the Air
Commission still awaits response from fellow Commission
Florian Wirtz is drawing a line under rumors circulating about his preferred jersey number at Liverpool via a sarcastic Instagram post, debunking reports linking him to the number 10. "Who says I wanna rock the number 10?" Wirtz quipped, before adding, "I respect players. Don't believe everything that's written." The trickster, currently donning the number 10 for Bayer Leverkusen, ended with a devilish clown emoji.
Previous reports suggested Wirtz might have expressed an interest in the number 10 jersey, currently worn by Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister. However, the player's playful post seems to have put the speculation to rest.
Football's Treasured Number 10
Portrayed as the heart of the team, the number 10 jersey holds an iconic position in football. Liverpool legends like Michael Owen and Sadio Mané have donned this sacred number before Mac Allister.
Florian Wirtz, a 22-year-old German national football player, has been shining for the Reds since his summer debut in 2023, with his career extending until June 30, 2028.
Protracted Negotiations
Contract negotiations between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have yet to reach a concrete agreement, despite Wirtz's intention to join the Premier League team. As per a "Kicker" report, the Bundesliga club rejected the second offer, said to consist of €118 million fixed payment and additional €12 million bonuses. Liverpool's initial offer reportedly included €100 million in cash and €15 million in add-ons.
Bayer Leverkusen's bosses are hopeful of securing more than the £126.7 million quoted by Wirtz, the club's CEO, Fernando Carro, earlier publicized as the minimum requirement.
Currently, Wirtz is preparing to face Portugal in the nations league semi-final, wearing the number 17 jersey for the German national team.
Enrichment Data:
Total Offered: €128 Million
The total financial offer in question is set at €128 million (€118 million fixed payment and €12 million in bonuses for Wirtz).
FIFA Training Compensation:
The transfer also entails FIFA's solidarity mechanism, where approximately €3 million to €3.2 million will be distributed among Wirtz's previous clubs, including 1. FC Köln. However, the responsibility of covering this cost is currently subject to negotiations between Liverpool and Leverkusen.
Dispute Over Number 10:
The alleged dispute over the number 10 jersey appears to be a red herring, since Wirtz's Instagram post appears to dismiss the issue. Nonetheless, the negotiations continue to progress on other aspects.
- Despite the speculation regarding Florian Wirtz's preference for the number 10 jersey at Liverpool, his playful post seems to affirm his respect for the current wearer and may suggest a willingness to adjust.
- While the number 10 sports a revered history in European leagues, having been worn by legendary players like Michael Owen and Sadio Mané at Liverpool, the ongoing contract negotiations between Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool focus primarily on monetary aspects, with the total proposed offer standing at €128 million.
