Stunning Swap Could See Liverpool Send Wirtz To Real Madrid
Liverpool are reportedly considering a shock swap deal that could see Florian Wirtz move to Real Madrid.
The German attacking midfielder arrived at Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen in July for an initial fee of £100 million after Liverpool beat off competition from both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to secure his signature. However, Wirtz is still yet to record a goal or an assist in his first 11 Premier League appearances, and he has also missed Liverpool’s last two games after picking up a muscle injury while on international duty with Germany.
Although his numbers don’t paint the full picture — he currently sits 20th in the league for chances created and has continued to impress for the German national team — his recent form has started to attract criticism, especially with Liverpool struggling for consistency in recent weeks.
Just four months into his time at the club, former Barcelona, Valencia and Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has suggested that Liverpool should consider sending Wirtz to Real Madrid in exchange for their unsettled star, Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius, who finished as the runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, is reportedly unwilling to sign a new deal with Real Madrid due to ongoing issues with manager Xabi Alonso. Interestingly, Alonso himself has also been linked with a potential move to Liverpool if Arne Slot is shown the door.
Speaking to Casinostugan, Mendieta said:
“Florian Wirtz for Vinicius Junior in a swap deal — why not? I can honestly see Wirtz fitting in better at Real Madrid at the moment than Vinicius would at Liverpool. But overall, the deal could work for both sides.
“We’ve seen situations like this before when a manager has a strong connection with a player — Alonso knows Wirtz from Leverkusen and understands how to get the best out of him.
“Wirtz was a leader there, and while there are still many question marks, this kind of move has happened before.
“The main issue at Real Madrid would be deciding his position because the midfield is already packed.
“Vinicius Junior, on the other hand, could become a huge success in the Premier League with the right backing and trust. There’s no doubt he’s a top-quality player.”