Florian Wirtz was widely expected to join Bayern Munich this summer, but Liverpool’s interest in the Bayer Leverkusen star appears to have turned his head towards Anfield with his decision now made
Florian Wirtz is on the verge of joining Liverpool after his father informed Bayern Munich that the Bayer Leverkusen star wants to move to Anfield. Wirtz’s father and agent, Hans-Joachim, informed Bayern on Friday that his son wants to leave the Bundesliga.
Instead, the 22-year-old’s sights are set firmly on a move to Liverpool, who are now in talks with Leverkusen as they look to complete a club record deal. Manchester City pulled out of the race to sign Wirtz earlier this month due to concerns over the finances of the deal, leaving Liverpool and Bayern in what had appeared to be a two-horse race.
Bayern were originally viewed as the frontrunners and were confident of getting a deal fixed to take him to Bavaria – but club president Herbert Hainer admitted defeat on Saturday. He said: “Max Eberl [sporting director] informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool.”
Wirtz’s decision is “a complete surprise” to Bayern chiefs, according to German daily BILD. But it’s understood that Bayern have made a mess of their pursuit, allowing Liverpool to swoop, with the player’s camp growing frustrated by their pursuit in recent months, feeling it has been disrespectful to Leverkusen – where the Wirtz family, unsurprisingly, have a great relationship.
Still, Wirtz and his family spoke at length with Bayern chiefs, including head coach Vincent Kompany recently, but the Wirtz camp were left feeling a little underwhelmed by their most recent transfer meeting. From there they flew to England to speak to Liverpool where Kop boss Arne Slot outlined his plans and convinced the player that Anfield should be his next port of call.
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Liverpool are set for a huge summer in the transfer market after making just one signing last year, with Federico Chiesa joining in a cut-price deal from Juventus. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to join from Valencia after a £29million deal was agreed last August.
And Wirtz’s Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong is also on the verge of joining Liverpool after the Reds activated his release clause. Frimpong will replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expires.
Alexander-Arnold announced earlier this month that he will be leaving the club this summer and the 26-year-old has been booed by some supporters as a result. However, he was recently defended by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
In an appearance at the LFC Foundation Gala Ball, Klopp said: “I don’t want to tell anyone what they should think, I don’t want to say what you have to think but I can tell you what you think is wrong. Because I am an old man and I don’t waste time with hiding my opinion. I watched the game when he came on and I heard the booing. I’m old so it may be my hearing so I turned up the volume and said ‘That’s booing’.
“I needed another 10 seconds to realise and then I switched the telly off. I honestly could not have been more disappointed in this moment. This is not us, 100 per cent.
“I don’t tell you you should not be disappointed or angry, I tell you ‘Don’t forget’. This club does not forget. We are famous for not forgetting. We don’t forget anything: we don’t forget the good thing and we don’t forget the bad thing.
“But we ignore the bad things and remember the good things. You don’t have to be happy he is going, but don’t forget what he did for this club because I can’t forget it.”
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