Arsenal and Liverpool move for Bundesliga sensation

Arsenal will hope to keep alive their Premier League title hopes when they face London rivals West Ham United on Saturday. 

Mikel Arteta’s side left it late to beat struggling Leicester City on Saturday, with midfielder Mikel Merino scoring twice after being substituted on as a makeshift striker.

The result temporarily moved the Gunners within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool, although the Reds re-established their seven-point advantage by defeating Wolves on Sunday.

Having finished as runners-up in each of the past two Premier League seasons, Arteta will be desperate to see his side get the better of Liverpool this term.

Away from the action, it appears that both clubs are interested in a Bundesliga star.

According to TBR Football, both the Gunners and the Reds have made contact about a potential move for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

The report claims that the Premier League’s top two sides – as well as reigning champions Manchester City – have all been in contact with the player’s representatives for some time now.

Despite their interest and the player being open to the idea of a move to the Premier League, the report claims that completing a deal will prove tricky for English clubs.

It is claimed that Real Madrid are eyeing Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as a potential replacement for manager Carlo Ancelotti if the Italian leaves the club this summer, and that could prompt Wirtz to depart the German side too.

The report also suggests that the 21-year-old has previously rejected moves elsewhere due to Alonso being the club’s head coach.

Wirtz is valued at £87 million by the Bundesliga side, the report claims, but he has also been the subject of interest from Real Madrid and fellow German side Bayern Munich, the latter of whom hope to pair the player with Germany teammate Jamal Musiala.

Whilst Leverkusen are said to be optimistic that the player will sign an extension to his current contract – which runs until 2027 – the report suggests that he is in fact likely to leave this summer if Alonso departs.