Liverpool transfer target Florian Wirtz panned by BILD following Germany's loss to France in Nations League Finals
Florian Wirtz came in for criticism from the German press following Germany's 2-0 defeat by France in Sunday's third-place play-off at the UEFA Nations League Finals.
The 22-year-old, who remains Liverpool 's No 1 summer transfer target, was given a 4/10 rating by BILD, who described his display as lacking the leadership and spark he often shows at Bayer Leverkusen.
But that verdict was perhaps a little harsh, considering Wirtz made more key passes (four) than any other player on the pitch.
He also struck the post with one of two shots, touched the ball 75 times, and completed 86.3 per cent of his 51 passes.
Explaining the 4/10 rating, BILD wrote about Wirtz: 'Another performance with both highlights and shadows from the Leverkusen player.
'A weak free kick into the wall. Missed the chance to make it 1-0 after 36 minutes because his shot hit the post. Not the magician, not the leader he's often been in Leverkusen recently.'
Wirtz is widely tipped to leave Leverkusen this summer, with a big-money move to Anfield on the horizon.
As Mail Sport revealed earlier on Sunday, Liverpool are preparing a final offer worth around £118million, after seeing a £113m proposal — made up of £100m up front and £13m in add-ons — rejected by Leverkusen.
Leverkusen are now braced for Liverpool's next approach, which is expected to include improved bonuses to help meet their £118m valuation.
Wirtz is said to have his heart set on the move, having turned down Manchester City and Bayern Munich earlier this summer.
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann defended his players after Sunday's defeat, insisting: 'We created a lot of chances. But we have to be honest as well — it's football — [scoring] goals is the most important topic, and we missed a lot of chances today.
'Normally, when you create such good chances like we did in the first half, you have to get the lead, but not only one goal. Three or four could [have been] possible in the first half.'
Defender Jonathan Tah added: 'We played a pretty good game, especially in the first half. We deserved to score at least three goals… it hurts at this moment because I think we deserved more.'
Meanwhile, Liverpool are hoping to step up their pursuit of Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez in the coming days.
The Cherries remain insistent on their £45m valuation but Reds transfer chief Richard Hughes, once of Bournemouth, will try to negotiate that down.
After the Wirtz and Kerkez deals are wrapped up, the Premier League champions will look to balance the books.
Federico Chiesa is weighing up a return to Italy after barely featuring for Liverpool since his switch from Juventus last August. Sales of Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas could also happen, though nothing is advanced yet.
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