Florian Wirtz's reason for Man City transfer snub 'is to do with Pep Guardiola'
Liverpool have opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a deal to sign Florian Wirtz, who reportedly rejected a move to Manchester City earlier this month
Manchester City may have missed out on securing a deal with Florian Wirtz because of concerns he had about Pep Guardiola's dedication to the club. Liverpool have stepped up their pursuit of the German striker, as they opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen following previous interest from both City and Bayern Munich.
With a valuation of £126million, Wirtz has become a prime target for Liverpool, who now appear in pole position to sign the star following discussions with the German outfit.
BILD reported that Wirtz was unsure about Guardiola's commitment to staying at City for the future, which may have swayed his transfer preference. However, any wider doubts about the Spaniard's future were quashed when he signed a two-year extension with Man City this past November, keeping him at the club until 2027.
Wirtz was further swayed towards Anfield following Leverkusen's heavy 4-0 loss in the Champions League. He was stunned by the stadium's overpowering atmosphere and iconic stature in the competition.
Leverkusen's managing director, Simon Rolfes, confirmed the Reds' keen interest in a recent press conference, but insists that the striker hasn't headed out the door just yet. He said: "It's currently an open subject with Florian. There is concrete interest from Liverpool, but there's no more to say right now. Florian is our player."
In an interview with the German edition of Sports Illustrated, Wirtz candidly opened up about prioritising his career over financial gains previously, showcasing his dedication to the sport.
Wirtz said: "When I moved from Cologne to Leverkusen, I didn't think for a second about what my salary would be.
"I was only interested in what would be best for my career. I don't think about how much money I have in my account, or how much I could earn in the future.
"The sporting perspective is much more important than money. My parents would be angry if I ever gave money priority."
Liverpool fans will be further excited by Wirtz potentially joining their club, as Real Madrid icon Toni Kroos offered a glowing review of his ex-Germany teammate.
Speaking to Bulinews, the six-time Champions League winner said: "If he thinks that's the best next step for him and his career, then that's good. You can technically only judge decisions like this afterwards, of course.
"He [Wirtz] is a player who can prevail at any club in the world, in my opinion. It doesn't matter if it would've been Bayern or Liverpool, it's different from being at Leverkusen for sure — but he has all the tools to assert himself at any given top club."
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