Liverpool and Bayern Munich are interested in signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer
Comments
Sport
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz(Image: (Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images))
Florian Wirtz appears to be at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Liverpool and Bayern Munich. It emerged on Monday that Manchester City have withdrawn from the race for the German international.
As previously reported by the ECHO, the Reds have made it known to Wirtz and his parents that they would be a viable option should they wish to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer. However, it has been claimed that Bayern are considered as favourites to sign the 22-year-old.
But Arne Slot wants to make a significant play for the £125million-rated Germany international, who has impressed under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso at the BayArena.
READ MORE: Cody Gakpo addresses Jeremie Frimpong transfer question as 'crazy' Liverpool claim madeREAD MORE: 'It was obvious why' - national media respond to Liverpool defeat at Brighton and make Federico Chiesa point
But while Wirtz appears to be taking his time to decide his move, he has already been advised by a team-mate not to make the move to the Allianz Arena this summer.
Speaking to Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger last month, Robert Andrich was asked if he had told Wirtz to go abroad instead of Bayern, to which he replied: “Yes, of course there are a few comments along those lines.
“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.”
Alonso described Wirtz as one of the best players in the world when asked about the attacking midfielder on Friday.
"Flo is one of the top players in the world," he said. "He is world class. Flo has a very mature mind. The people around him, his parents, they want the best for him.
"They are in a very important moment of his career. Whatever he does, I am really close to Flo and I will be happy for him.
“Let's wait a little bit. It's normal in football that there are rumours, especially with such a special player.
"There were rumours (in the past), there are rumours today and there will be rumours in the future. You need to deal with them and not take them too seriously."