Club now convinced Liverpool target Florian Wirtz is on the move

Bayer Leverkusen bosses are now convinced that Florian Wirtz is leaving the club, according to reports. Liverpool are in the mix.

This comes from Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg. He claims that Bayer Leverkusen bosses expect Florian Wirtz to depart the club over the next couple of years.

"Bayer 04 hopes that he will stay for one more season," he wrote on Twitter. "Bosses are convinced that he will definitely leave the club, at the latest, in the summer of 2025."

Plettenberg then notes that several of Europe's biggest clubs want Wirtz. Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United are all named here.

The best chances, however, belong to Bayern Munich. If they can afford him, that's the club for Wirtz.

Plettenberg does make it clear, though, that the player hasn't agreed to anything or made a commitment with any club. He's committed to Leverkusen for now.

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Wirtz was one of Europe's most sought-after midfielders at just 17. Five goals and six assists in the Bundesliga at that age will do that, of course. He then followed that up with an even better season at 18 - seven goals and 10 assists.

An injury, however, derailed everything and Wirtz was only able to start 11 games last campaign. He's back to his best now, though - and the clubs are once again lining up.

The German, who's still only 20, has three goals and five assists already this season in a Leverkusen team that tops the Bundesliga under Xabi Alonso. Wirtz is looking like a supreme prospect once again.

It's no surprise that Europe's elite want him but it's also difficult to see how Liverpool make this one happen. Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived this summer and all play that ball-carrying, attacking midfield role.

The question will be whether Liverpool actually see Wirtz as a False 9 and the ultimate successor to Roberto Firmino. It's very possible and the player was active in that role pre-injury.

Regardless of whether Liverpool are involved in this race, though, Wirtz's future will dominate upcoming transfer windows. It's just a case of whether the Reds can justify a big-money move.