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Florian Wirtz is widely expected to join Liverpool ahead of next season(Image: Getty)

Comparisons between Liverpool target Florian Wirtz and Arsenal star Kai Havertz were once shut down by the young Bayer Leverkusen star's former coach.

Fast forward to today, and the German midfielder certainly has the attention on him right now surrounding his prospective switch to Anfield.

The 22-year-old is understood to have spurned offers from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, seemingly setting his sights on Liverpool as his preferred move.



Arne Slot's side lodged a staggering £109million offer, but that was knocked back by Leverkusen, with discussions still ongoing.

As Wirtz is tipped for a move to the Premier League champions, comparisons are being made with his compatriot, Havertz.

Wirtz made his name in 2020 as Leverkusen's youngest-ever debutant, stepping into the boots of Havertz following his switch to Chelsea that year.

The challenge of becoming a more than worthy replacement for Havertz, who was previously Leverkusen's youngest-ever player, ensured that Wirtz was to be heavily judged in the shadow of his international team-mate, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Talking to Sportbild back in 2021, he said the comparisons helped rather than hindering his progress.

I've always been like this."

Article continues belowKai Havertz and Florian Wirtz have played together internationally(Image: Getty Images)

As rumours heat up on Wirtz joining Havertz in England, they're bringing a renewed focus on the similarities between their careers.

Nonetheless, the former U17 national coach for Germany, Christian Wuck, who previously worked with Wirtz, once urged restraint from placing too much expectation on the player's shoulders.

"I don't know whether you should already compare him with Kai, a current top player in Germany," Wuck said to GOAL in 2020.

"My tip: Just let the boy play!"

Should Liverpool successfully clinch a deal for Wirtz, they'll also be bagging a player with three "special" qualities, his ex-coach has claimed.

"Flo is incredibly intelligent," Wuck added.

He recognises situations on the pitch within a very short time and draws the right conclusions."

The buzz around Wirtz potentially moving to Liverpool has escalated dramatically over the last couple of weeks.
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