Xabi Alonso is not planning a reunion with Florian Wirtz at Chelsea this summer, according to sources close to the club. The Germany international, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116million last summer, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge following Alonso's appointment as Chelsea head coach.
Wirtz enjoyed his most prolific spell under Alonso at Leverkusen, scoring 38 goals and providing 43 assists in 119 games. However, a source told football.london that speculation about a Chelsea move for the 23-year-old is wide of the mark. The Blues are targeting at least two first-team calibre players to bolster Alonso's squad, but Wirtz is not among them.
The links were understandable given their history, with Wirtz previously praising Alonso's trust and freedom. 'I feel extremely valued under him,' he said in November 2023. 'He gives me a lot of freedom on the pitch and always has a tip on what I can do better.'
Meanwhile, Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola will be tasked with unlocking Wirtz's potential at Anfield. The German has started both of his country's World Cup matches, assisting Felix Nmecha's goal in a 7-1 win over Curacao before playing the full 90 minutes against Ivory Coast.
