Florian Wirtz won't be joining Chelsea this summer, with the Blues dismissing speculation they're interested in the Liverpool playmaker.
What happened?
Chelsea sources have rubbished talk of a reunion between Wirtz and new Blues boss Xabi Alonso, who worked together at Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso got the best out of Wirtz during their time at Leverkusen, with the Germany international registering 38 goals and 43 assists in 119 games.
Why it matters for Florian Wirtz
Wirtz's displays under Alonso earned him a £116million transfer to Liverpool last summer, but he's struggled to replicate that form at Anfield, with 7 goals and 10 assists in 49 outings.
The 23-year-old has started both of Germany's World Cup matches, assisting Felix Nmecha's opening goal against Curacao.
What comes next?
Chelsea are targeting at least two first-team-calibre players to bolster Alonso's squad, but Wirtz won't be one of them, with the Blues focusing on other targets.
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool's new boss, will be tasked with bringing the best out of Wirtz, who has praised Alonso's management style in the past.
Wirtz has spoken highly of Alonso, saying "I feel extremely valued under him" and "he gives me a lot of freedom on the pitch".
But Wirtz's focus is now on his Liverpool career, with the Reds looking to improve on their fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.
So, Wirtz will be looking to build on his World Cup performances, where he played a key role in Germany's 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
The Germany international has a lot to prove at Liverpool, but he's shown glimpses of his quality, and Iraola will be hoping to get the best out of him.
Wirtz's future at Liverpool is uncertain, but one thing is clear - he won't be joining Chelsea this summer.