Newcastle United and Barcelona are reportedly set to fight it out for Bayer Leverkusen’s 19-year-old forward, Florian Wirtz, but it looks like Barca may be frontrunners.
As Eddie Howe looks to add young talent to the Newcastle ranks, Florian Wirtz has been touted as a player who fits the profile for Howe and Dan Ashworth‘s revolution. However a report from Sport.es in Spain suggests that Barcelona have ‘seduced’ the youngster after talks with his father.
Wirtz is widely regarded as one of the best young talents in world football, and despite suffering an horrific ACL injury last year, he has returned to action and picked up where he left off.
In his eight Bundesliga appearances this season he’s registered four assists to go alongside his two goals and two assists in three Europa League outings, one of which came in last night’s game against Ferencvarosi TC as he set up Kerem Demirbay for the ninth minute opener.
Wirtz carries a hefty price tag for a 19-year-old
Such is his high regard, he’s carrying the price tag to match. It’s believed that if Bayer 04 were to allow him to leave, the fee would be around the £62million region, which is impressive for a 19 year old who has missed so much football this season.
Looking back to last season though, you can see where his reputation comes from. He made 24 appearances in the Bundesliga before his injury, and in those games he bagged seven goals and got ten assists. Phenomenal figures for any player, let alone a teenager.
The Newcastle Project vs The Established Giants
Wirtz would be a mind-blowing signing, and although Newcastle are said to be interested in his teammate, Moussa Diaby also, if we had to pick one, I’d say we go for the young German.
He’s got an amazing future ahead of him and he could be an instant hit on Tyneside. Where many of our young signings are being kept back for the future, with Wirtz abilities he could walk straight into our starting lineup.
Of course, now the complication comes with Barcelona having ensnared him with their groovy Champions League-offering voodoo something that, as it stands right now, Newcastle can’t promise.
But I believe that if it’s pitched properly, and I have no reason to doubt that it will be, our project is more exciting than joining an already-established heavy hitter. If we can start selling these youngsters on the idea of being here at the start and becoming legends, there’s nothing to say we can’t compete with the big boys when it comes to signing hot prospects like Wirtz.
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