Liverpool have a new bromance to watch out for – and they’ve already shown their cheeky side in a sunny lads’ holiday.
Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong – very occasionally dubbed ‘Wirtzpong’ online – shared a photo of them posing on a boat and soaking up the rays, reportedly off the coast of Montenegro.
It’s a seafaring adventure that will have kept the holiday insurers busy, given that around £145.5million of talent stared down the lens in their swimming trunks.
Wirtz, toting a bucket hat on the boat, will soon join from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal rising to £116million, while Frimpong has already left the German outfit for £29.5m
Both are title winners from the invincible domestic season under Xabi Alonso in 2023-24, with Wirtz named Bundesliga Player of the Season, and have spent five years playing together.
Their trip won’t be all fun and games given that Wirtz is due to have his medical later this week. According to The Athletic, he will have his medical on Friday in the United Kingdom.
Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have been on holiday together, reportedly in Montenegro
The youthful duo have spent the last five seasons playing together at Bayer Leverkusen
They won the Bundesliga title in an invincible domestic season with Leverkusen in 2023-24
They’ll be preparing for a rigorous training regime under Arne Slot, who is targeting a second consecutive Premier League title and the Champions League.
Last summer, the Dutchman had his players doing all sorts, including boxing each other. Kostas Tsimiikas was even seen firing a gun at a shooting range.
Those left-field routines saw Slot branded a ‘psychopath’ by some supporters but nobody is doubting his methods now.
The Reds have bolstered their prospects early by bringing in Frimpong, wrapping up the deal for Wirtz, and opening talks with Bournemouth over £45m-rated Milos Kerkez.
While they have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, the signs are pointing to another strong season at Anfield.
Wirtz and Frimpong are down to get their first taste of Liverpool action when they kick off pre-season with a trip to Preston North End.
Their other assignments will include clashes against AC Milan, Yokohama FM, and back-to-back fixtures against Athletic Club on August 4.
Both teams have agreed to play two 90-minute matches and one would imagine Slot making wholesale changes between them.
Arne Slot has been getting his transfer business done early, with Milos Kerkez also a target
Liverpool will also raise the curtain on the Premier League season on Friday, August 15 as they host Bournemouth in front of the world’s cameras.
Wirtz will arrive with a stellar reputation but still a lot to prove and the jury is out on whether he can repay his fee, which some £100m+ players have not done for other clubs.
Liverpool have agreed a base £100m fee for Wirtz, which could rise to £116m depending on bonuses including winning the Premier League and Champions League.
After his medical on Friday, he is expected to sign a five-year deal.
He has snubbed interest from Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid in favour of joining Arne Slot’s side this summer.
The 22-year-old has already viewed houses in the Cheshire area after opting for a move to Anfield.
