Quite happy personally to believe this is done reading everything as this evening has gone on both sides of the channel. I don’t think the fee has ever been the stumbling block. Just the make up of it. And L’pool aren’t submitting the figures and make-up widely quoted (£100 million plus £13 M in very achievable add-ons), if a compromise hasn’t been reached. Heck, the likes of Jacob’s are saying that went in earlier in the week and there’s a lot of talk the German side it’s boxed with a medical agreed.
This is done. Florian Friday. Party time!
I never thought I’d say this when the fee is so astronomical. But certain players are
THAT special, they justify the outlay and then some. Anyone now questioning the record sums for Alisson or big Virg? Florian Wirtz is one of that really special ilk of generational player worth EVERY last penny…..
There’s only ONE thing to do when it comes to L’pool and Leverkusen ……
Sings:
‘ ….. Here we go, oh , Rockin’ All Over the World …..’
If you know, you
KNOW!
One of the most hillarious, spontaneous outbreaks of song and dance we’ve ever done. That carried on LONG into the Rhine-Ruhr night. A ‘had to be there’, unforgettable moment of inspired, off the cuff brilliance, and no less hilarity, that I’m still chuckling about writing this 23 years on.
And honestly, in those intervening 2 decades or so, in my humble opinion, we’ve never signed a player as good as we just have in Florian. The most complete #10 currently playing in World football. Bar none. Who is MUCH better, at 22-years-of-age, than Kevin De Bruyne, who City have desperately wanted Wirtz to replace for the past few years, was at 23 when going to City from Wolfsburg. That £55 million transfer made KDB the second most expensive British transfer ever. And I FIRMLY believe, just like the Belgium, Wirtz second highest British transfer record of £ 113 million, will prove to be an absolute bargain when it’s all said and done.
Think of all your generational, World class, modern era 10’s. Zidane. Rui Costa. De Bruyne. Thats Florian Wirtz. Think of your greatest of all time, classic # 10’s. Platini. Zico. Scifo. Wirtz is on
THAT career trajectory already. Seriously! And he’s such football intellect, that his versatility allows him to orchestrate games of football from all over the park. The prospects of where Slot and co. will use him are mouth watering. Be it as a classic 10. As an inside forward utilising the left half space, dropping deeper to dictate the tempo as he often has done with Leverkusen and Germany. Wider as a left winger. Through doing an equally stellar job as a CF. Or what seems the ideal fit for me, being the closest thing to Bobby in a false 9-esq role I’ve seen since Bobby himself redefined the #9 position to leave his legacy on the game. Wirtz truly has it all.
Two footed. Vision. Skill. Flair. Work rate. Exceptionally composed in front of goal with every type of finish. From the finest finesse to the long distance power web. The variety in his finishing and passing is immense. He dominates possession, rarely ever giving the ball away in tight spaces. Always on the front foot with ridiculous passing accuracy. So imaginative and creative. The volume of the variety of his passes, and his exceptional dribbling and close ball control, make him not only totally press resistant. But the perfect man to break lines in the final third. SO De Bruyne-esq in the inventiveness and volume/ variety of his passing/ playmaking. His athleticism and off the ball movement are first class too. Great range and always finding pockets of space where there seemingly is none. And the coup de grâce, he never stops working his backside off with ridiculous pressing stats out of possession. Brilliant in transition where he often gets a pressing interception/ wins the ball. Just the perfect fit for both the rigours of the PL. And, more importantly, how we play football.
The only knocks I can see watching him, as I have a lot with Leverkusen which I noted recently on here after the equally brilliant Frimpong addition, is he’s quick. But he hasn’t got rapid, elite breakaway speed. And he’s a little light physically and not as robust as you’d ideally like. Forget him in the air where he often shy’s away from challenging. But that’s minor quibbles to every other World class trait he brings to the table.
Absolutely stunning signing this from Edwards and Hughes. As it should be for the record money involved. That elevates a side that already was streets ahead of anyone else in England, to a whole over level all by themselves. Top German players don’t leave Germany when Bayern want them. They just don’t. We’ve not only seen off Munich. But City and Madrid too. Hughes could not make another signing and he could dine out on Wirtz forever! Absolute madness to think we lose the best right full, and his generational, playmaking ability and goal creation, in World football. And within a matter of weeks, we’ve double down, inside and out, by adding 139 G/A over the past three seasons under Alonso to replace him. (Frimpong 58 G/A. 23 goals/ 35 assists. Wirtz 81 G/A. 38 goals/ 43 assists.). And heck know’s how many more chances created between the two. If we’ve been blown away by the ageless Salah’s record breaking season this year, wait until next season with him more tucked in closer to goal and those two supplying him.
Stupendously great business from Hughes and all concerned.
There’s only maybe Yamal at Barca that could have made me even more excited than I am at the Wirtz signing. Absolute mustard of a player. Complete game changer that takes an already elite side into whatever the level above elite is. He’s not so much as stepped foot on a PL pitch yet and I make him top 5 in the entire league. Trent might crave a Ballon d’Or. Well I honestly believe Wirtz has a seriously realistic chance of winning that award here. Thats how highly I rate him. I don’t throw plaudits to this level around lightly but I’ll happily die on that hill given all I’ve seen of Florian.
We’ve just invested in a record breaking
BARGAIN!
When we move, we PROPER move!
Really couldn’t care about who’s signed next. After the signing of the summer and then some in Wirtz, EVERYTHING else is gravy.
Just give us #21 and 7 now!
Sings:
‘ ….. Here we go, oh , Rockin’ All Over the World …..’
, talk about getting fleeced! Mind you they have put a 1B release clause in his new contract so clearly they see something they can develop further... You can now guarentee he will be a total flop in Spain.
