Florian Wirtz has shut down claims that he has demanded the No.10 shirt at Liverpool, telling fans not to believe everything that has been written in the media.
Liverpool are closing in on an agreement to sign Wirtz this summer having had an opening offer rejected for the Bayer Leverkusen star, who is widely considered to be one of the best young talents in European football.
Bayern had initially been in pole position to wrap up a deal for Wirtz and spoke with the attacking midfielder in Munich on the day that Vincent Kompany’s men celebrated their Bundesliga title triumph.
But Premier League champions Liverpool are increasingly hopeful of coming to a resolution with Leverkusen over a transfer fee for Wirtz and Bayern have conceded defeat in the race to sign the 22-year-old.
It’s understood the Reds are willing to spend between €130m (£109m) and €150m (£126m) for Wirtz and the Germany international has already started house-hunting north west of England.
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On Monday, a report from Sky Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg suggested Wirtz had requested the No.10 shirt on Merseyside, currently occupied by Alexis Mac Allister.
Wirtz took over the No.10 shirt at Leverkusen at the start of the 2023/24 season and it was claimed he ‘would like’ to continue with the iconic number at Anfield.
But Wirtz took to social media to break his silence and hit back at these claims this evening, writing: ‘Who says I want the 10… I respect players.
‘Don’t believe everything what’s written [clown emoji].’
Wirtz is currently on international duty with Germany ahead of the side’s Nations League semi-final with Portugal on Wednesday.
Facing the media ahead of the clash, Germany captain Joshua Kimmich admitted he was disappointed to learn that his fellow countryman had turned down Bayern in favour of a move to Liverpool.
‘He will have his reasons for making this decision,’ the Bayern midfielder told reporters.
‘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.’
Meanwhile, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann declared that Wirtz would be making a ‘very good step’ in his career should a move to Liverpool materialise this summer.
‘He texted me. We exchanged a few messages,’ Nagelsmann told reporters when asked if 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.’
Nagelsmann added: ‘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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