Florian Wirtz to Liverpool latest as Germany boss replies to transfer accusation
Julian Nagelsmann spent less than two years in charge of Bayern Munich before being dismissed in March 2023, but he insists he hasn't been urging Florian Wirtz to snub the Bundesliga champions for Liverpool
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann insists he has had nothing to do with Florian Wirtz snubbing a move to Bayern Munich in order to join Liverpool.
Wirtz has his heart set on a move to the newly crowned Premier League champions this summer, and the Reds have made an opening bid of around £109million - a club record fee - for the exciting attacker.
It isn't yet clear whether Bayer Leverkusen will accept that offer, but there is confidence on all sides that the 22-year-old will become a Liverpool player in the coming weeks.
Bayern had felt that they were in the box seat for the player voted the best in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons, but Wirtz and his camp were left unimpressed by the club when they held transfer discussions.
By contrast, Wirtz was won over by the facilities on offer at Liverpool as well as the vision of head coach Arne Slot, who will be seeking to build on this season's Premier League crown in his second campaign at the club.
Additionally, Wirtz will have his now former Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong by his side at Anfield should he complete the move, with the Dutch right-back sealing his own £29.5m transfer to the Reds on Friday.
Nagelsmann had less than two years in charge of Bayern before he was sacked in rather acrimonious circumstances in March 2023, before being appointed Germany boss six months later.
There have been some suggestions in his homeland that Nagelsmann sought to influence Wirtz's decision and push him towards making the switch to the Premier League, but the 37-year-old boss insists that isn't the case.
"I've never told a player to move here or there," Nagelsmann told a press conference prior to Germany's Nations League semi-final against Portugal in Munich on Wednesday.
"What's important is that he plays - and plays a similarly important role to the one he played in Leverkusen. We know that he's one of the best players in the world."
Wirtz is said to want his future resolved during the current international break, with the 10-day pre-Club World Cup transfer window opening for business on Sunday.
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