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Florian and the (Slot) Machine

I know, he was a great player and a big signing. I just don't think it was remotely close to this.

I'd say Torres is the closest, then probably VVD. Getting Wirtz at this point feels like when Bellingham went to Madrid or Hazard to Chelsea. One of the most coveted players in the world making his career defining move.
I don’t think he’s that big a name outside of Germany at all yet.

I hope he’s sensational but I don’t see him anywhere near VVD levels.
 
Not sure about that, he seems like a pretty big deal to me.

Can't really think of many bigger young players who aren't already at massive clubs.
Big name or not it's hard to evaluate players coming out of the German league these days as the league overall is bang average. Definitely needs to build up his strength as he is too frail for our league.
 
Big name or not it's hard to evaluate players coming out of the German league these days as the league overall is bang average. Definitely needs to build up his strength as he is too frail for our league.

He looks like he has a wiry muscularity to me.
 
No it wouldn't. As I remember it Kewell had already shown signs of decline or at least stagnation by that point. A couple of years earlier, yeah he was Saka. When we signed him he was more like Martinelli.

I remember being pleased but not wildly excited, like he was a great player who'd hopefully kick on now. Obviously this is just my impression from 22 years ago so could be wrong.

Like you said it was 22 years ago, recollections can differ and I also had moved to Australia by that point where this was a huge thing.

Wiki lists the teams he turned down as AC Milan, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal & Barcelona and in terms of stats he posted his best ever return in league goals the season before he signed.

That’s doesn’t suggest decline or stagnation although it was a few years after he’d won young player of the year.

Hard to recall if any sense of stagnation was more to do with the Leeds team having peaked a few years earlier and that team going into its almost terminal decline.

Can’t agree with the Marineli comparison - Kewell was way more highly regarded and sought after.
 
I remember being a bit conflicted about signing Kewell, not because he was going downhill (I don't recall it that way and was chuffed we'd got him) but because we fairly blatantly tapped him up. That said, Leeds did get £5 mill.out of the deal.
 
I don't think he was going downhill, I just don't think he was quite the hot property he was a few years earlier.

It was maybe akin to Owen when he left vs Owen in 2001.
 
I remember being a bit conflicted about signing Kewell, not because he was going downhill (I don't recall it that way and was chuffed we'd got him) but because we fairly blatantly tapped him up. That said, Leeds did get £5 mill.out of the deal.

Kewell, to be fair, turned down other offers that involved higher fees to Leeds because he didn’t want to join any other team and forced through a move to Liverpool - I think on the basis of otherwise he’d leave in a free the following season.

Leeds were desperate for cash and effectively had to accept our “lower” offer.

Don’t recall “tapping up” as such, but it was well known that Kewell was a Liverpool fan and this was his dream move.
 
In hindsight, Duff was the man to go for at that time.

I think Utd, after losing out to Kewell went out and spent 2.5 times the amount we paid for Kewell on a certain young Portuguese winger who turned out to have decent career.

And I don’t mean Nani.
 
Milner would have been the other one we should have picked up from that Leeds team.

We got there in the end… 12 years later.
 
I think Utd, after losing out to Kewell went out and spent 2.5 times the amount we paid for Kewell on a certain young Portuguese winger who turned out to have decent career.

And I don’t mean Nani.
We had him all but wrapped up and Utd stole him from under our noses.
 
I’m clearly in the minority but that highlights reel isn’t blowing me away. Players looking good in Germany doesn’t automatically mean they’ll flourish here. He looked to be afforded way more time on the ball than he’ll get here and he doesn’t look strong or lightening.

Hopefully he’s as good as everyone is saying that watch German football week in week out but I’m not as blown away as say I would be by a Suarez Dutch highlights reel or Torres Spain.

We’re getting one of the biggest gems and coming superstars in World football. Other clubs fans are in awe. Our fans are meh.

Weird. Very weird
 


The transfer poker for Florian Wirtz ends with a shock for FC Bayern: The Bayer Leverkusen international has decided to move to Liverpool FC.

After months of wooing, the decision was made this week. Wirtz doesn't want to join Munich, but rather the "Reds" – the English champions. The Bayern bosses were so certain that the young midfield star would join them. They were ready to put together the biggest transfer package in the club's history. Now, the surprising turnaround.

The call to the Bayern bosses came on Friday afternoon: Both Uli Hoeneß (73) and Max Eberl (51) had Hans-Joachim Wirtz's number saved in their smartphones. Florian Wirtz's father wanted a quick decision before the family went on vacation. A secret meeting had taken place earlier this week, with Wirtz, Hoeneß, and Eberl all sitting at the table. Bayern had tried everything one last time.

But on Friday, they received a message that was a real blow for the German record champions: Hans-Joachim Wirtz declared that after five years at Bayer Leverkusen, his son no longer sees himself in the Bundesliga. He wanted the next step, the next challenge. Therefore, he would move to the Premier League, to Liverpool FC. The Bayern bosses knew they had lost the battle for the best German player of his generation, Jamal Musiala (22).

On Saturday, Bayern President Herbert Hainer confirmed the cancellation. "Max Eberl informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning toward Liverpool. I can't say how things will continue with Leverkusen," Hainer said at a fan festival.

The decision comes as a complete surprise to the German record champions: There was tremendous confidence that Wirtz would move to Munich this summer. According to Bild, Bayern had previously been operating on a different basis: After numerous discussions with Wirtz himself and his father, the Munich team was of the opinion that the midfielder simply doesn't see himself in a different league yet.

Florian Wirtz spoke at length with Vincent Kompany​

The plan was to continue maturing in Germany before taking the next step in three or four years. This made Bayern so confident. Just last Saturday, Honorary President Hoeneß said at Bayern's championship celebration: "We'll provide you with facts at some point – and not with further speculation. You are responsible for that."

Florian Wirtz himself had long discussions not only with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, but also with Liverpool coach Arne Slot. Slot, a central midfielder himself, is said to have impressed Wirtz with his ideas.

What's next for Bayern? Wirtz's withdrawal has hit Munich hard, but they're also prepared for it in their planning: They're now looking for various players. A central midfielder like Wirtz is no longer needed: Musiala is set to play at number ten, and Michael Olise (23) can also play in that position. Xavi Simons (22), who was traded last summer and is unhappy at RB Leipzig, is apparently no longer an option.

Bayern are also looking for wingers: Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma (28) is a candidate, and Crystal Palace striker Eberechi Eze (26) is also being mentioned. He played successfully alongside Olise at Palace.




In addition, talks with Leroy Sané (29) have resumed: Internally, it is not ruled out that the offer to the controversial international player will be improved or the ratio between fixed salary and bonuses will be changed. Currently, Bayern are apparently offering around ten million euros in base salary plus a five-and-a-half million euro bonus. Sané's agent, Pini Zahavi (82), is in good contact with Bayern and would prefer twelve to thirteen million euros in fixed payments for his client.
 
Same. What a player. It’s a Virgil and Alisson type signing.

Rumour is everything is agreed now, medical booked before the international games and that the fee is a bit lower than first assumed.
Where are you seeing that?
 
Where are you seeing that?

Lots are saying it.. North of €100m but less than €150m.

We asked Leverkusen what they would accept, and because we paid under the asking rate for Frimpong we felt the goodwill was there to ensure Bayern were locked out. (Apparently).

Payment structure was all that was remaining.

Secret Scout saying medical is booked.

Expect any player(s) going the other way will be independent of this deal. But the goodwill is there between the clubs.
 
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