Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz is closing in on a move to Liverpool and Reds fans' have Arne Slot to thank after new details about the German's transfer aspirations were revealed
Florian Wirtz has been told Arne Slot is a better manager than Erik ten Hag as the Liverpool boss was revealed to have played a major role in the German's potential move to Anfield. The future of the Bayer Leverkusen star was already set to be a major talking point this summer with the Premier League champions, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City all in the hunt for the 22-year-old.
Conversations surrounding Wirtz's next move indicated that a transfer to the German champions was most likely until he conducted a meeting with Slot, alongside his father and agent, Hans-Joachim Wirtz.
The intervention from the Reds boss was said to have proved critical in the attacking midfielder deciding to snub Bayern in order to move abroad for the first time in his career.
According to Bild, the meeting on May 13 saw Slot provide Wirtz with a clear picture of where he'll fit within his title-winning team and was promised of a starring role in the side's attack.
Becoming enamoured with promises of a central role within one of the world's best teams, as well as being informed of the fervent support that the club possesses from their fans, resulted in Wirtz's father informing Bayern executives Uli Hoeness and Max Eberl that it was Liverpool who had won the race for his son's signature.
Wirtz could have ended up playing for Ten Hag next season, had he chosen to remain with Leverkusen, after the former Manchester United boss was announced as their new manager following the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.
However, a move to Liverpool will see the Wirtz team up with the better manager, according to Mark Diemers. The Cambuur midfielder enjoyed spells playing under both managers, having spent a brief period alongside the ex-United boss at Utrecht before joining Slot during his time at Feyenoord.
Best positioned to give an opinion on the managerial abilities of both men, the 31-year-old had a clear opinion when admitting who he enjoyed working with more. "I choose Arne Slot," he told ESPN Netherlands last year when asked about the best manager he has worked with.
"I can only talk from my time. I found Ten Hag insanely good tactically, so were his training sessions. I just didn’t think he was very good, at that time, on a human level. But that was already six or seven years ago. I thought Slot was a lot stronger on a human level.
"Look at what kind of clubs [Ten Hag] has worked at, so he must also have qualities on a human level. I still have contact with him via WhatsApp. Then he also comes across as very friendly to me. He will undoubtedly have grown on a human level as well."
Despite the lack of consistent success in Manchester – and some issues in the dressing room – Ten Hag still managed to win two trophies in his time at the club as he made sure to maintain his status as a manager who is adept in capturing silverware.
Ten Hag also won plaudits for his style of play at Ajax, which encouraged United to initially make a move for the 55-year-old. However, it's Slot who has arguably managed to cement himself as the better of the two in recent times following title successes with Feyenoord and, of course, Liverpool in his first season in as boss of the Premier League club.