Florian Wirtz closes a move to Liverpool After rejecting Bayern Munich and the transfer is called a “real shame” for the Bundesliga by Hans-Joachim Watzke
The upcoming move from Florian Wirtz to Liverpool is a “real shame” branded by Borussia Dortmund Chief Hans-Joachim Watzke. Liverpool has agreed a deal worth £ 116 million with Bayer Leverkusen and Wirtz will arrive in the UK for his medical later this week.
The Reds must pay £ 100 million in advance plus an extra £ 16 million in add-ons and the deal will break the British transfer record if those bonuses are reached. Both Manchester City and Bayern Munich were also interested in signing the 22-year-old.
The city considered Wirtz as a potential replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, but pulled himself out of the race for financial worries and has since spent £ 46.3 million to Tijjani Reijnders and £ 34 million on Rayan Cherki instead.
In the meantime, Bayern missed Wirtz after the player was convinced to join Liverpool by manager Arne Slot and sports director Richard Hughes. However, Watzke is disappointed to see that one of the top talents of Germany left the Bundesliga and claims that he would rather have seen Wirtz see himself at Bayern.
“It is a real shame, especially for the DFL (German football competition), that a player like Florian Wirtz disappears from the Bundesliga,” Watzke told Kicker. “I would have had no problem at all if he had gone to FC Bayern.
“That would have been better for the Bundesliga. He could have played better with Musiala in Munich, but two such good football players find each other anyway.”
Bayern star Joshua Kimmich has also spoken about the failed move of his club for Wirtz, where the midfielder claims that they now have a shortage of options after Leroy Sane came to Galatasaray and it was announced that Thomas Muller will leave when his contract ends.
“You will have to ask the club what their plans are,” said Kimmich. “Of course you feel that we could do something – with Flo (Wirtz) who doesn't come, with Leroy who leaves, with Thomas who leaves.
“I was surprised that (Sane) is going to Turkey. I did not expect that. But it is his decision and he will have his reasons for it.”
Kimmich's comments after Bayern's sports director Max Eberl explained that the club could not have matched that Liverpool would pay for Wirtz. “I am sure we will have a competitive team – and that we will also have the finances under control,” said Eberl.
“If I'm honest, I don't know if we could have paid what Liverpool apparently pays now now. Florian Wirtz is an excellent player. We could have suggested to sign him. But if a door closes, another will be opened.
The focus is on the team we have here. We have brought some young players, and now we have added two Germany -internationals in Tom Bischof and Jonathan Tah, who have arrived on free transfers. That is already a big step. “
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