Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann believes Florian Wirtz would be making a ‘very good step’ in his career by joining Liverpool.
Wirtz has scored 57 goals in 197 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen and last season won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the German Super Cup with the club under Xabi Alonso.
But the Germany international, who is considered one of the finest attacking midfielders in European football, is expected to follow Alonso out the exit door at Leverkusen when the summer transfer window opens for business.
Bayern Munich have long been linked with Wirtz and the 22-year-old reached a verbal agreement over a proposed witch to the Allianz Arena earlier this month.
However, Liverpool have muscled their way to the front of the queue and Wirtz has reportedly ‘given his word’ to the newly crowned Premier League champions, with Bayern’s president appearing to confirm the rumour on Sunday.
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‘Max Eberl (Bayern’s director of sport) informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool,’ Herbert Hainer said.
‘We’ll provide you with facts at some point and not with further speculation. You are responsible for that.’
It’s understood Liverpool are prepared to pay between €130m (£109m) and €150m (£126m) to wrap up the signing and Wirtz has already started looking for houses in the north west of England.
Given the importance of the decision, Wirtz reached out to Nagelsmann for some advice on his next steps.
‘He texted me. We exchanged a few messages,’ Germany manager Nagelsmann told Sky Sport Deutschland.
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‘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.’
According to Nagelsmann, the ‘great environment’ Arne Slot has created at Liverpool would be a good fit for Wirtz.
‘You can look at it from different points of view. In the end, every player has to decide for himself,’ the ex-Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig manager added.
‘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 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.’
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