MUNICH — Bayer Leverkusen’s midfielder, Florian Wirtz, has responded to rumors about his possible transfer to Liverpool and the associated speculation regarding his preference for jersey number. Reports emerged, notably from broadcaster Sky Germany, suggesting that as part of negotiations to join the English Premier League squad, Wirtz expressed interest in donning the No. 10 shirt.
The No. 10 jersey holds significant heritage at Liverpool, having been worn by esteemed players such as John Barnes, Michael Owen, Philippe Coutinho, and Sadio Mané. Currently, Alexis Mac Allister, a midfielder and a World Cup winner with Argentina, sports this iconic number.
Wirtz took to Instagram to address the situation on Tuesday evening, writing, “Who says I want the 10,” and stressed his respect for other players. He further cautioned fans not to believe everything they read, punctuating his message with a clown emoji to emphasize skepticism towards such reports.
The promising Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder is on the verge of transferring to the Premier League champion, Liverpool, after declining interest from Bayern Munich. This comes on the heels of Liverpool’s successful acquisition of his teammate Jeremie Frimpong, a talented Dutch right-back.
If the deal for Wirtz goes through, it could set a new British transfer record, surpassing the previous high of 106.7 million pounds, which Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernández earlier in 2023. As negotiations continue, Wirtz is preparing for Germany’s upcoming Nations League semifinal matchup against Portugal in Munich.