Leverkusen teenager Kai Wirtz is a hot property in the transfer market after scoring a hat-trick for Germany U19s against Sweden. Bayern Munich and Premier League clubs are monitoring his progress as he looks to make a move from Leverkusen.
Leverkusen are the Bundesliga’s youngest team, with an average age of 18 years. The club has been producing some impressive young players in recent years, including Bayern Munich-target Leon Bailey and current star Kai Havertz.
Bayern Munich and its Premier League rivals are keeping an eye on Bayer Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz. Getty Images/Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images
The summer transfer window for Europe’s major leagues has ended! Following a summer of international football, a slew of teams waited until the last minute to finalize their deals. Here you can see all of the key signings and see how we rated them. However, just because the window is closed until January doesn’t mean the rumors won’t continue.
Bayern Munich and Premier League teams are keeping an eye on Wirtz.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Bayern Munich and many Premier League teams are keeping an eye on Bayer Leverkusen teenager Florian Wirtz. In only three games in the Bundesliga this season, the 18-year-old has scored two goals and added three assists.
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According to the report, the midfielder’s contract, which has five years remaining on it, does not include a release clause. Leverkusen is not in a position to generate money via a transfer, and the Bundesliga club has no intention of letting him leave.
The Germany international has had a meteoric ascent in his career, earning his debut in September and playing in all three of Die Nationalmannschaft’s games during the international break, including an assist against Armenia.
Wirtz is the latest in a long line of players to come through Leverkusen’s academy, which he joined from FC Cologne in January 2020. Kai Havertz, who joined Chelsea for £62 million in May and went on to win the Champions League in his debut season, was the most recent such highly anticipated talent.
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12.31 BST: Now that the Premier League has resumed play for the first time since the summer transfer window closed, it’s a good moment to assess the situation.
Chelsea, Liverpool, reigning champions Manchester City, and Manchester United, who finished in the top four in each of the previous two seasons, have built extremely strong teams for the rigors of the 2021-22 season. With a depth of skill in virtually every position, this foursome is very well-equipped for the next season.
Before announcing the overall victor, we looked at those four teams and judged them on a position-by-position basis.
– Who has the best team among Premier League championship contenders?
11.36 BST: Former Anfield defender Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has earned a new contract after scoring his 100th Premier League goal.
Salah, 29, scored the first goal in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory against Leeds United on Sunday, bringing his tally to a century. In only 162 Premier League appearances, he achieved the milestone, including two goals in 13 league games for Chelsea earlier in his career.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed last month that the club had begun negotiations with the Egypt international, who has a contract until 2023 at Anfield and has previously hinted at a transfer to Real Madrid or Barcelona.
“While Liverpool did not splash the cash like other clubs last summer, they did acquire a slew of new players. Mo Salah is the one who has yet to sign,” Carragher stated on Sky Sports. “Now he’s clearly looking for a little bucks. And with good reason. Best wishes to him. He is deserving of it. He really deserves to be one of the best paid players in the Premier League given what he has accomplished since joining Liverpool.
“He never gets hurt, yet year after year he is the leading goal scorer. He simply is.”
“I believe Mo Salah is as professional as [Cristiano] Ronaldo, he takes after his body, and I think Mo Salah has a lot of years left in him,” Carragher said, “so I just hope this gets solved sooner rather than later.”
“You always argue about money; the player wants a little more, the club wants a little less, but it has to be worked out; fingers crossed it will because he deserves it for what he has done for Liverpool.”
Fabinho and Alisson, as well as defenders Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, have just signed new long-term contracts with Liverpool, with Klopp predicting that captain Jordan Henderson would follow suit.
10.44 BST: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered Jack Wilshere the opportunity to practice with his old club as he looks for a new club.
Wilshere, 29, recently spoke with The Athletic about the effect of his inability to find a club after being released by Bournemouth in the summer on his mental health, and how he has even contemplated retirement.
After rising through Arsenal’s junior levels, the midfielder spent a decade at the Emirates, but his time there was marred by injuries, which he continued to have during following stints at West Ham and Bournemouth. As a result, despite being a free agent, clubs have been hesitant to sign him.
After learning of Wilshere’s situation, Arteta said that he would welcome his old comrade back to Arsenal to assist him in his quest for a new contract, and Wilshere is optimistic that this will happen.
At an event for mental health charity CALM, Wilshere stated, “It can only benefit me.” “I’m interested in being among excellent players, practicing with world-class players, and simply being in a team atmosphere.”
“I’m confident I’ll strike up a discussion with someone at the club in the coming days.”
09.51 BST: Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. has said that he is a “fan” of PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, whom Los Blancos attempted to acquire during the summer transfer window.
Last month, sources informed ESPN’s Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez that Madrid had made a €200 million offer to PSG for Mbappe but had got no response, prompting them to put their pursuit of the France international on pause.
Mbappe, 22, is out of contract next summer and may sign a precontract with Real Madrid or another team as early as January 1.
Vinicius told AS, “He’s a very fantastic player, I like him a lot, I’m a fan of his.” “I’m certain he’ll have a successful season at PSG. We’ll have to wait and watch what he does next.”
09:00 BST: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes it’s up to his star-studded team to convince Paul Pogba that Manchester United is a trophy-winning club.
Pogba has been unable to agree on a new deal at Old Trafford and may be released at the end of the season.
The signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane, according to Solskjaer, imply United are capable of winning silverware, but the Norwegian believes his players must show it ahead of their Champions League match against Young Boys in Switzerland on Tuesday.
“Now it’s up to us to achieve results and show yourself that we can win trophies,” Solskjaer said during a press conference in Bern on Monday. “Every player that joins Manchester United dreams of winning trophies. It’s the most wonderful feeling in the world to be a member of a victorious Man United squad. Everyone is just concentrating on doing their best and seeing where things go.”
• Best movements by Barnwell: 100-51 | 50-1 • The most recent significant transfers • January transfer grades
GOSSIP ON PAPER (by Luke Thrower)
– Manchester United is in discussions with Bruno Fernandes about extending his contract, with the club aiming to do so before the conclusion of the season. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 27-year-old wants to remain at the club, which has prioritized contract extensions for the Portugal international and Paul Pogba.
– Atletico Madrid have already set their sights on three players in Hector Herrera, Ivan Saponjic, and Sime Vrsaljko in January. According to Calciomercato, Diego Simeone is aiming to make a few changes to his team once the transfer market reopens.
– According to the Sun, Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is seeking to make his loan transfer to Aston Villa permanent. The 23-year-old is on his third loan stint at Villa Park and is ready to commit to a transfer to the West Midlands.
– Internazionale are on the lookout for a successor for Samir Handanovic in the goalkeeper market. According to Calciomercato, the 37-year-old has conceded a few dubious goals this season, prompting Inter to pursue Ajax Amsterdam No. 1 Andre Onana as their main priority.
– According to Calciomercato, Internazionale are considering a move for Robin Gosens if Ivan Perisic leaves at the conclusion of the season. Perisic’s current deal expires at the end of the season, and there has been no progress in negotiations for a new one. With his contract at Atalanta ending in 2023, Gosens would be a potential replacement on the left side, with space for discussion between the sides.
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