Wirtz's ex-coach shut down Liverpool target's comparisons to £70m Arsenal ace

Liverpool target Florian Wirtz is one of the most exciting prospects in world football, and his former coach has previously talked down any comparison with compatriot and Arsenal forward Kai Havertz

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. "It motivates me to be even better than Kai," he said. "I always want to be the best, and I hate losing. I've always been like this."

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. "What makes him so special and what sets him apart from many other youth players is his excellent training in basic technology.

"He is two-footed and has incredibly good technique. 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. Reports from BILD in Germany suggest he has agreed a five-year contract with the Reds, while Leverkusen are playing hardball for a fee in the region of their €150m (£125m) valuation.