Florian Wirtz is just as talented as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jamal Musiala.

Joe Cole, the former England international, has heaped praise on Bayer Leverkusen’s young star Florian Wirtz following his goal in the UEFA Europa League semi-final first-leg victory over Roma. Wirtz, who celebrated his 21st birthday on the eve of the match, opened the scoring as Leverkusen extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive 47 games across all competitions.

Speaking after the game, Cole, who is now an expert for TNT Sports, couldn’t hide his admiration for Wirtz and even compared him to other European talents such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jamal Musiala. Cole described Wirtz as “incredible” and highlighted his combination of South American flair and German efficiency.

While Bellingham, Palmer, Foden, and Musiala may be familiar names to British viewers, Cole believes that Wirtz is just as talented and has the potential to achieve great things in his career.

In terms of goal contributions this season, only Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been more prolific than Wirtz, with the Leverkusen forward boasting an impressive tally of 37 goals and assists in all competitions.

Another midfielder who has caught the eye this season is Musiala, who has impressed for Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. However, Owen Hargreaves, another TNT Sports expert, believes that Wirtz’s goal contributions are on another level, describing them as “PlayStation numbers.”

Despite already securing the Bundesliga title, Leverkusen still have plenty to play for. With a place in the German Cup final and now one foot in the Europa League final, Xabi Alonso’s side have a rare opportunity to win the treble.

Jeremie Frimpong, Leverkusen’s defender, expressed the team’s readiness for the upcoming challenges. He emphasized that the motivation is high, with the team still competing in multiple tournaments. Winning the league hasn’t dampened their hunger for more success, and they are fully prepared for the battles ahead.

With Wirtz leading the charge, Leverkusen’s ambitions are sky-high as they aim to add more silverware to their already impressive season.