Barcelona are now reportedly interested in a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz next summer.
The 20-year-old has played a starring role for Bayer Leverkusen this season, with three goals and three assists in seven appearances, and is beginning to attract interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.
Mundo Deportivo have now reported that the midfielder is of interest to Barcelona, but given the lack of a release clause, the potential fee needed to land him could be around €100m.
This is likely to be too high for Barcelona to afford, but the player has previously admitted to being a fan of the club, and he is likely to stay on the club’s radar whilst he continues to impress in Germany.
Is Wirtz a good option for Barcelona?
Joao Felix’s unconfirmed future at the club could mean that Wirtz is being explored as a different option in attacking midfield if Barcelona are unable to keep Felix.
Wirtz has been compared to Lionel Messi by his manager Xabi Alonso, as the Spaniard drew similarities in their intelligence on the pitch.
“Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says: ‘You’re in a better position? Here, there you have the ball!’ It’s not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That’s why he’s so good,” he claimed.
This is high praise from the former Spain star, and Wirtz is clearly a player with a bright future. Barcelona’s financial situation unfortunately makes a move unlikely for now, but who knows where he could end up in the future.