Why Wirtz is a wanted man following Bayer Leverkusen's title success

 

The issue with Bayer Leverkusen's title success is that a number of Europe's elite sides will seek to pick apart the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions. Those keen on strengthening in specific areas this summer will arrogantly assume that Bayer's success was a flash in the pan, this despite Xabi Alonso's decision to reject the chance to succeed Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel at Liverpool and Bayern Munich, respectively. 

 

A number of their star performers are expected to be linked with high-profile transfers this summer. Jeremie Frimpong, Victor Boniface and Exequiel Palacios are among those who played key roles in domestic success and will crop up on radars in the off-season. The star in the Bayer crown, though, is creator-in-chief Florian Wirtz. Having been plucked from FC Koeln in January 2020, Wirtz would go on to make his senior debut for Die Werkself in May that year. 

 

Wirtz has endured a stop-start Bayer Leverkusen career to date, with his development paused in 2022 as he suffered a cruciate ligament tear. Since his return to action, however, he's been making up for lost time, culminating in a hat-trick against Werder Bremen on Sunday that confirmed Alonso's side as Bundesliga champions for the first time. In the process, he became the first player to score a Bundesliga hat-trick off the bench since Erling Haaland in January 2020. It was the best of times, it was the Wirtz of times.

 

While Bayer Leverkusen will do everything in their power to retain his services, interest in the Germany international this summer won't come as a surprise. A hat-trick against Werder Bremen took the 20-year-old to 11 league goals this season, and in the process saw Wirtz become the first player to register double figures for both goals and assists in Germany's top tier this term. Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins is the only other player to have achieved the feat in Europe's top five leagues.  

 

 

What is impressive about Wirtz's season so far is not only his goal and assist haul for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga this season but the way in which he hurts opponents. The youngster ranks highly for chances created, with 71 the seventh most in the division. Furthermore, 12 big chances created ranks 11th in Germany's top tier, and that is to be expected. There are the additional routes to goal that do stand out for Wirtz and enables the Leverkusen to pry apart defences with ease. 

 

Only two players - Bayern wing duo Leroy Sane (93) and Jamal Musiala (87) - have completed more dribbles than Wirtz (78) in the Bundesliga this season. Combined with his goal haul, Wirtz has a quality end product to hurt opponents that'll so often sit deep to frustrate the newly-crowned German champions. When you consider Bayer Leverkusen have the highest possession average (63.1%) in the Bundesliga this season, teams will seek to frustrate the 2023/24 title winners, but when you have a player of Wirtz's ilk on the books; Alonso's side often find a way to score regardless. They have, after all, scored 15 goals from the 75th minute onwards, the third highest in Germany's top tier this term. 

 

Yet for a high pressing Leverkusen side, Wirtz carries out his fair share of defensive work to help turn defence into attack. One of the strongest weapons in their arsenal is their ability to press high up the pitch to force turnovers, of which Wirtz excels. Indeed, he has won possession in the attacking third more times (35) than any other Bundesliga player this season. With the onus on offensive players carrying out defensive duties, Wirtz thrives. 

 

Given Wirtz remains in the infancy of his career, it's no wonder the German side have slapped a huge price tag on their prized asset. "No one is unsellable, but Wirtz will not leave for less than €150m," chief executive Fernando Carro said to Radio Marca. While the aim will be retain Wirtz's services, and with the player under contract until 2027, with so many sides interested in the Germany international; a possible bidding war is on the cards.

 

With potential Europa League and DFB-Pokal success also on the cards, the interest in his services will only increase with each passing week. It's deserved, too, for a player who has been so influential for Bayer Leverkusen this season, and that's all the more impressive given his serious knee injury two years' ago.

Why Wirtz is a wanted man following Bayer Leverkusen's title success