Liverpool, and a host of Europe's other top clubs, have suffered a possible blow in their interest of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz has been attracting heavy attention for being one of the main architects behind Leverkusen's phenomenal start to the Bundesliga season.
Xabi Alonso has led his side on a remarkable unbeaten run to start the season, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund the only two sides to stop them from winning this season after 20 games in all competitions.
The 20-year-old playmaker has had a big role to play in their success so far, contributing to 16 goals already, while becoming a regular pick in the Germany national squad.
Liverpool are one of many clubs who have been linked with Wirtz, but comments from the player's father may have dealt a serious dent in the hopes of any club acquiring him in the near future.
Speaking to Sky Sports Deutschland, Wirtz's father Hans-Joachim said: "Currently, everything is leaning towards Florian continuing to play in Leverkusen next season."
Wirtz came through the ranks at FC Koln, before moving to Leverkusen in 2020, and he soon made his senior debut later that year just two weeks after turning 17.
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The attacking midfielder was briefly the Bundesliga's youngest-ever goalscorer when he netted past Bayern Munich just a couple of weeks after his debut, before Youssoufa Moukouko usurped him months later.
However, less than a year after signing a five-year contract which tied him down at the BayArena until 2026, Wirtz tore his ACL, keeping him out for 10 months, only returning at the start of 2023, but he has flourished under Alonso.
Keeping Alonso in charge may prove difficult with rumours of Real Madrid looking for a new manager, but that could likely go a long way in keeping Wirtz at the club next year, when there will undoubtedly be heavy interest.
With a home European Championship coming next summer, a breakout tournament for the youngster may not only raise his transfer value even further, but also ramp up the desire for one of Europe's heavyweights to make a move.
Despite being just 20, Wirtz already has 14 caps for Germany, and his form this season so far suggests that, if he remains injury-free, he is a certainty to be in Julian Nagelsmann's squad next summer.
Andrew Delaney
