Florian Wirtz has been advised to snub a move to Bayern Munich by his teammates at Bayer Leverkusen. The attacking midfielder is the subject of interest from a host of top clubs heading into this summer’s transfer window, with German champion Bayern and Premier League winner Liverpool among them.
Bayern has made a habit of hoovering up the top German talent over the years, which has helped the team to dominate the Bundesliga for several decades.
Wirtz is the latest hot prospect that Bayern wants to get its hands on, and speaking last month, Wirtz’s club teammate Robert Andrich told Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger that the Leverkusen players had been telling Wirtz to snub Munich.
“Yes, of course there are a few comments along those lines,” Andrich said when asked if he had told Wirtz to go abroad instead of Bayern. “I hope he doesn’t leave, especially not to Bayern, because that would make them significantly stronger.
“But fundamentally, Flo is already very clear in his perception and his mind, and he also has a very good environment. So no matter what he ends up doing, he’ll have thought it through thoroughly. It would be best, of course, if he stayed with us.”
Liverpool is said to be in a tug of war with Bayern for Wirtz after Manchester City apparently pulled out of the race to sign him.
City is said to have withdrawn its interest after deciding that the overall cost of the deal would be too expensive: City believed that the deal, inclusive of transfer fee and wages, could end up costing the club €300 million ($336 million).
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Transfer expert David Ornstein gave his take on the situation on Tuesday. “Liverpool do have an interest in Florian Wirtz, but there’s no guarantee this will happen; let’s see if he’s going to leave Bayer Leverkusen at all,” Ornstein said on NBC Sports.
“Let’s see if he wants to leave Germany – if he does, then Liverpool are going to make a push for him. He’s a player they’ve liked for a long time, but Bayern Munich is possibly the favourites to sign him.
“Manchester City were in the frame as well, but it seems that they’ve pulled out of that, and some are suggesting it’s between Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
“Liverpool will be there for a player of that calibre, you’re always going to be interested, but there’s no certainty that it’s going to go further.”
