Manchester City's Pep Guardiola is the latest to answer to Florian Wirtz interest amid transfer competition with Liverpool
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola(Image: Manchester City)
As Liverpool and Manchester City battle for the summer transfer of Florian Wirtz, Pep Guardiola has been asked about the situation. The Premier League rivals are expected to go up against Bayern Munich for the attacking talent's signature.
Speculation around Wirtz's future has burst into life ahead of the penultimate weekend of Premier League football, already looking ahead to potentially one of the upcoming summer window's biggest sagas. Bayer Leverkusen's highly-rated No.10 is at a crossroads over where next to take his career.
Whilst German media place Bayern at the forefront of the race, the player's family - also his representatives - flew to England to meet officials from City whilst the ECHO also understands Liverpool have made first contact to establish their own interest before going up against the two heavyweights.
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Reports in Germany have stated representatives from Liverpool also met with Wirtz during the trip to England. Guardiola was the last of the relevant coaches to talk to members of the media on Friday, and the topic of Wirtz was brought up midway through his press conference.
"Now's not the time to talk about that," the Spaniard replied. "Before the FA Cup final I have 24 fantastic players. I'm not going to talk one second about the the future."
City face Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium tomorrow with the final piece of English silverware up for grabs.
Meanwhile Liverpool are trotting to the end of a Premier League season in which they already know they will be lifting the trophy following the final match at home to Crystal Palace.
Focus is already being placed on how the club will prepare for next season using the market and Arne Slot was also asked about transfers in his own press conference.
This was in the context of fellow Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong, with the ECHO understanding his release clause is expected to be paid by Liverpool.
"A boring answer and for a whole season it was about contract extensions and now everyone wants to know who is coming in," said Slot.
"We don't talk about it in public until we sign them and then you can ask me all about it."
Meanwhile in Germany, Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl said it was not his place to discuss any meetings Wirtz may have had with English rivals, and outgoing Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso declared he will be happy for the 22-year-old whatever decision is made.