Joshua Kimmich admits he was left disappointed that Florian Wirtz turned down strong interest from Bayern Munich in favour of a move to Liverpool.
Bayern have made no secret of their long-held admiration for Wirtz and met with the Bayer Leverkusen star on the day the club’s title celebration took place in Munich, with a view to getting a deal over the line.
It’s claimed Wirtz was collected from the airport and taken to a hotel in the city, where he spoke with Bayern chiefs Uli Hoeness, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Max Eberl, Christoph Freund and Jan-Christian Dreesen, as well as head coach Vincent Kompany.
But Wirtz went on to reject Bayern after mulling over his options during a short break and the 22-year-old attacking midfielder is now expected to push through a switch to Anfield.
Manchester City had also been exploring a possible bid to sign Wirtz, but dropped their pursuit of the Germany international due to concerns over the potential cost of a deal.
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While Liverpool saw their first official offer for Wirtz knocked back by Leverkusen, the two clubs are hopeful a resolution can be reached in due course.
‘He will have his reasons for making this decision,’ Bayern star Kimmich – Wirtz’s captain at international level – said of the youngster’s impending move to Liverpool.
‘I hope it turns out to be the right path for him.
‘As a Bayern player, I would have naturally wanted him to come to us.’
It’s understood Liverpool are willing to splash out between €130m (£109m) and €150m (£126m) to wrap up the signing and Wirtz has already begun looking at houses in the north west of England.
Last week, Bayern’s president, Herbert Hainer, appeared to concede defeat in the race to sign Wirtz, with the attacker ‘leaning towards’ a move to Merseyside.
‘Max Eberl [Bayern’s director of sport’ informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool.
‘I can’t say how things will transpire with Leverkusen.’
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann, meanwhile, believes Wirtz would be making a ‘very good step’ in his career should he join Liverpool.
‘He texted me. We exchanged a few messages,’ Nagelsmann told reporters when asked whether he had given Wirtz any advice.
‘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.
‘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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