Liverpool and Manchester City are very much in the mix to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window, but the two Premier League clubs are now facing competition from Bayern Munich, HITC understands.
Sources have told HITC that Bayern Munich are keen on signing Florian Wirtz from Bundesliga rivals Bayern Leverkusen.
Liverpool and Manchester City facing Bayern Munich competition for Florian Wirtz
HITC has been told that both Liverpool and Manchester City are keeping regular contact with Wirtz’s representatives, but Bayern are now a major threat to the Premier League clubs’ chances of securing the services of the 20-year-old.
Bayern’s plan is to pair Wirtz with Jamal Musiala – who they have little intention of letting go at the end of the season – in an attack they could lean on for much of the next decade.
Wirtz, who is one of the best young attacking midfielders in Europe, is set to be a huge part of Germany’s bid for European success on home soil this summer, but he may have big decisions to make before competing for his country.
Florian Wirtz
Photo by Markus Gilliar/Getty Images
Bayer, who are 10 points clear of second-placed and defending champions Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table, are hoping that Wirtz may decide to stay for another season, but it looks increasingly likely that a deal to take him away from the club will be agreed.
Wirtz has proven that he is back to his best this season after suffering an ACL injury in mid-2022 which forced him out of the World Cup finals in Qatar.
The playmaker, who was linked with Newcastle United in 2023, has scored 10 goals and given 17 assists in 34 matches in all competitions this season. Liverpool and City watched him last month.
Florian Wirtz compared to Lionel Messi
Bayer head coach Xavi Alonso has been hugely impressed with Wirtz and has compared him to the great Lione Messi.
In January 2023, Alonso said about Wirtz, as quoted in The Daily Mail: “There are good players and there are players who look good on the pitch. The player who looks good does things that are nice, but not necessarily efficient.
“Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says: ‘You’re in a better position? Here, there you have the ball!’
“It’s not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That’s why he’s so good.”
