Florian Wirtz has been in discussion with German national team boss Julian Nagelsmann over a transfer to Liverpool
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Head coach Julian Nagelsmann of Germany substitutes Florian Wirtz
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann with Florian Wirtz(Image: Markus Gilliar - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Germany national team manager Julian Nagelsmann has revealed his role in Florian Wirtz choosing to sign for Liverpool this summer. As previosuly reported by the ECHO, the Reds have opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen to kickstart a blockbuster deal.
The 22-year-old has been a player of great interest to Liverpool chiefs during the time he has become established as one of the Bundesliga's brightest talents. Before the ECHO reported the opening of club-to-club discussions, the expectation had been that he would stay in his home country's top division, either with Leverkusen or Bayern Munich.
Such a decision was going to be deliberated between Wirtz and his close relatives, with his father also acting as his agent, though now Nagelsmann has divulged that the midfielder actually reached out in his direction to discuss the future.
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"He texted me," the German national team boss told Sky Sports. "We exchanged a few messages. I tried to give him tips to the best of my knowledge and belief, but I told him I can’t make the decision for him because my opinion is not necessarily the right one. The final decision is his.
"I didn’t rule out any club, I just tried to explain things to him and give him tips. I’m excited to find out about his decision. We always hear that things are done. It was also said with Bayern before that it was done. Let’s wait."
Before Nagelsmann continued: "You can look at it from different points of view. In the end every player has to decide for himself.
"It’s not official, but if it’s Liverpool, then it’d be a very good step because he can play in his position, a great environment, great club.
"Bayern wouldn’t have been a bad option either. It would’ve been good to have them [Wirtz and Jamal Musiala] playing together, but Jamal and Flo can get on well together even if they’re not at the same club.
"The most important thing is that he plays and continues to develop. If he feels that he would be better off at Liverpool, then he has to do it."
Other figureheads in German football have also come out to discuss Wirtz's possible transfer to the Reds.
Whilst criticising his former club Bayern for losing out, Lothar Matthaus has 'absolute confidence' that Wirtz will succeed at Liverpool and in the Premier League overall.
Meanwhile, Rudi Voller, former Leverkusen striker and now German national team director, believes staying at the BayArena is the best course of action.