Florian Wirtz | Leverkusen player
- Thread starter Invictus
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Goal or assist every 98 minutes since his return. And he has a bucket load of pre assists as well. Despite the assists, it wasn't one of his better performances today by his standards. Still great, mind.
What sort of ceiling do you reckon this lad has?
I think the highest of any player I've seen in the Bundesliga. IMO he has everything it takes to become the best in the world - even though I must say that I'm in the "playmaking is the most difficult and most important ability in football camp". Wirtz will most likely not turn into a 50 goals a season player like Haaland or Mbappe. If he simply reproduces his current form at a top club, he's already world class and would probably collect 10+ goals and 20+ assists. He's already the best player I've seen in a Leverkusen shirt..
But as Sancho proves, a transfer is always a risk. If Sancho played for United the way he played for Dortmund, he'd be an absolute beast but sometimes players are barely recognizable after they move clubs. So there are no guarantees, he's 19 years old and already suffered an ACL. That being said, Wirtz seems to be a different character to Sancho. More resilient, hungry and a healthy "I don't give a feck" attitude.
Highest of anyone in the Bundesliga? Wouldnt that be Musiala?
Musiala is great but Wirtz is better, IMO. His decision making, situational awareness and passing is on another level, his dribbling similarly good.
To provide some data on that, Wirtz is at 3.8 successful dribblings per 90 and Musiala at a still very impressive 3.0. For context: Vinicius Junior is at 3.2 and Mbappe at 2.4
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Think this deserves a bump. Had an excellent start to the season again
And when we're at it, here's some eye candy from preseason (it's a YouTube link but can't embed it because it a Short)
And when we're at it, here's some eye candy from preseason (it's a YouTube link but can't embed it because it a Short)
He’s City’s replacement for KdB next summer I think, City already know who’ll be replacing their ageing players years in advance, unlike us.
There are a few rumours doing the rounds. Barca's always seemed the likeliest destination (in the summer there were reports that they talked to Wirtz and informed him that they'll prepare an offer in 2024) but apparently Madrid and City have inquired about the player now as well. Bayern obviously is also mentioned frequently but I don't think he'll end up there. They'd logically take him but with Musiala in hand they won't be willing to pay the high fee that we'll ask for (probably north of €120m) and some clubs will be ready to pay. In terms of likeliest destination, I'd probably say Real = City > Barca > Bayern.
Depending on how our season goes, I wouldn't rule out that he stays until 2025, though. If he thinks he can win a title with us and his Germany careers goes fine, we probably have an outsider chance as well.
We should go for him, hopefully when we get the new owners in.
He plays in the same position as Bruno and Mount. No offense but seeing how the Sancho transfer worked out I really hope he doesn't choose United. It's just not a very good destination for players to fulfill their potential it seems.
Definitely feel he's a superstar in waiting but his fee will be astronomical. Would be a lovely successor to Bruno in a few years but think he'll be snapped up well before then.
Yes, I've already read a report on twitter that they're monitoring him. Would be surprised if he doesn't end up there. It's too late now this window which means probably next summer(or maybe even January).
Real Madrid’s midfield is stacked with genuine world class talent. Wirtz going there would be overkill, unless they plan to sacrifice one of their midfield diamonds. City feels more like a natural fit for him. Wirtz and Foden could be City’s next David Silva and KDB. In theory at least. I hope he does go to Barca or Real Madrid though. Or stays and helps Leverkusen win something.
Or the player just isn't up to it.
One way or another, I don't see how Bruno and Wirtz fit into one formation, let alone Bruno, Wirtz and Mount.
How's the comparison with Havertz for the record? Should give us some idea
I fail to see how Real would include him. Do you see them simply selling Valverde or Tchouameni(sp?) to make room?
Barca maybe needs more than one year to get their finances in order and can they play FdJ, Pedri, Gavi and Wirtz?
I agree on Bayern. Without Musiala I would want them to break the bank for Wirtz. But I fail to see a formation including Kimmich, Musiala and Wirtz without sacrificing a winger.
City is such an obvious choice and I‘d hate it.
For Leverkusen he played better than Havertz did.
Rotation is a thing and he could take Modric spot in the squad I think.
Just get rid of Gnabry and put Musiala on the left wing. Don’t see why that wouldn’t work.
They are very different. Havertz played a bit deeper and was more of a distributor who occasionally ghosted into the box to score himself. Wirtz is much more of a dribbler and final ball specialist but less of a finisher himself. Overall, I think he's been much better for us than Havertz who was very, very good in his own right
I think they'll line up completely different. Assume they sign Alonso as well, for instance. In the preaseason (without Adli being suspended), he played like this:
---------------Kossounou---Tapsoba---Grimaldo---------------
----------------------------Palacios---Xhaka---------------------------------
--Frimpong----------Hofmann---Wirtz-------------------Adli---------
---------------------------------Boniface---------------------------------------
At Madrid, this could look like this:
----------Militao-----Rüdiger------Alaba----------
--------------Tchouameni---Camavinga------------
--Carvajal----Bellingham----Wirtz----Vinicius---
------------------------------Striker?--------------------------
Bayern could do this as well, theoretically, but could only play one out of Gnabry/Sané/Coman
-----------------------Pavard---de Ligt---Kim------------------------
----------------------------Kimmich---Laimer--------------------------
-------Coman----------Musiala---Wirtz------------Davies------
-----------------------------------------Kane---------------------------------
Barca already plays a box midfield anyway. You could for instance play de Jong and Pedri as CMs and Gavi and Wirtz ahead of them. Or you could move Gavi to LW and play Gündogan, de Jong, Pedri, Wirtz
He'll be a long term bruno replacement and certainly better than mount.
We're a mess right now but things could change quickly, gotta wait and see how things pan out.
It pains me to say it, but the kid looks tailored to play for Pep and city. Looks like he even shares a barber with Foden already.
I'd love to replace Bruno with Wirtz but Bruno probably has a few more years left and Wirtz won't be available then
Hard to compare. Wirtz is an assist machine where Havertz was more of a goalscorer. Kinda feel like Wirtz's talents are more obvious though. Good dribbler, excellent passer.
It’s the type of ruthless decision Real or City would make, Bruno’s been here a while without achieving much, but knowing us he’ll be a regular starter for another 5 years as captain
From what I've heard he wants to stay at Bayer this season so as not to jeopardise his hopes of playing in the NT in the Euros.
After that I expect he'll move for a huge fee to one of the top clubs. There's always a need for a player if his calibre so I reckon he'll have his choice of a few clubs.
After that I expect he'll move for a huge fee to one of the top clubs. There's always a need for a player if his calibre so I reckon he'll have his choice of a few clubs.
He'd be mad to come here but if there wasn't even the slight possibility of landing we should go for it at the expense of bruno, whom as much as I like will probably never be the player most suited for our future.
why aren’t we in for him ? heard he’s going to city or bayern next summer….surely he would be a massive signing for us.
A bold thing to say considering Bayer had amazing players like Ballack, Kroos, Zé Roberto, Schneider, Kirsten, etc.
Who says you aren't? I don't think there is much substance to the City and Bayern rumours beyond the obvious "he is a top player so he is going to sign for a top club".
Or generational talent Kai Harvetz
I see what you did there
Kroos was great but Wirtz is much better for us, IMO. The rest is a bit harder to tell because I was too young to really form an opinion when Ballack, Kirsten and co. played for us.
It's crazy to think that Utd doesn't even have a chance to get a player like this anymore.
Sign of the times I'm afraid.
Players don't want to come here anymore unless we offer big wages.
Ballack was already one of the best midfielders in the world for you lot, Wirtz is obviously not at that level yet.
I wonder what Zehner opinion on Havertz was?
I think he is, at least in his position and every statistical metric backs this claim up. Only thing missing is performances against teams in the highest level for club and country, since he was unfortunately out injured when we played Champions League.