The Reds supporters are already intrigued by transfer rumors after they put their best foot forward to sign German sensation Florian Wirtz this summer.
According to numerous reports in Germany and the UK, Wirtz, 22, is a player of great interest to Liverpool as he gets closer to leaving his current team, Bayer Leverkusen. Manchester City and Bayern Munich are reportedly also interested in him.
Considering his age, profile, and potential, as well as the fact that he still has two years left on his Leverkusen contract, it would be a significant investment for whoever is able to acquire his services. Some reports place his wage demands at £400,000 per week, which seems a little higher than would be expected.
All three teams—City, Bayern, and Liverpool—have the financial resources to complete a deal; it all comes down to the player’s desires and the desire to push the boundaries. Bayern is now the clear leader.
The well-known German tabloid BILD reported earlier this week that Uli Hoeness, the honorary president of Bayern, had been attempting to take advantage of the connection between Wirtz, an Adidas athlete, and Adidas, the company that supplies Bayern’s uniforms. Adidas owns 8.3% of the football team as well.
Such a move has previously been suggested; when Liverpool was rumored to be in the running a few seasons ago, Kylian Mbappe’s status as a Nike athlete was viewed as a means of giving them some leverage. Naturally, that move never happened because he ended up moving to Real Madrid instead, and the notion of third parties helping with a deal’s financial component raised many concerns about financial regulation.
Although it appears highly unlikely that Adidas will be involved in such financial matters for Bayern, Liverpool’s partnership with Adidas next year may help at least move the current Premier League champions ahead of Manchester City. At best, it looks like a hopeful gamble that probably won’t be carried out. Without such resources, Bayern can afford to hire him.
However, the German sportswear behemoth can have the biggest influence by giving Wirtz the best opportunity to expand his own partnership with Adidas, which would be more profitable for both parties if he were to become a true international celebrity. He isn’t at the moment; his reach is constrained.
The Bundesliga is the third-largest domestic football league in Europe. It doesn’t have the same global appeal as the Premier League, and the majority of the fan base in other nations is focused on Spain’s top two teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the Premier League’s biggest teams, of which Liverpool is undoubtedly a member.
Since Wirtz played for Leverkusen, which is sponsored by Castore, it can be beneficial for players to be in agreement with their club’s uniform partners. More opportunities for cross-collaboration and expanded merchandise are made possible by it. Adidas would be able to more successfully market both their athletes and their partnership with a globally renowned and iconic brand like Liverpool.
Although it might have an effect on his personal wealth and brand, it probably won’t decide where Wirtz played; rather, it will be a topic of discussion. The choice will be made based on where he believes he has the best chance of moving on to the next level.