Liverpool exploits Bayern Munich's 'fatal' mistake in Florian Wirtz transfer battle

Something went wrong, please try again later.

Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later.

Sign up to receive the best LFC opinion direct to your inbox

Something went wrong, please try again later.

Sign up to receive the best LFC opinion direct to your inbox

Liverpool appear to be leading the charge in one of the summer's most hotly contested transfer battles, having tabled a whopping $147 million bid for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz last Friday, aiming to secure a signing that would send shockwaves through the football world.

The potential acquisition of Wirtz is being hailed as a significant triumph for Liverpool, with many at Anfield initially bracing for the 22-year-old to extend his stay in Germany, either by committing another season to Leverkusen or opting for a switch to the perennial Bundesliga titans, Bayern Munich.

However, the landscape shifted when Manchester City withdrew from the fray, and Wirtz's representatives subsequently notified Bayern that the player's preference was a move to Liverpool.

This revelation prompted the Reds to intensify their efforts to land the German prodigy, with sporting director Richard Hughes at the helm of negotiations. The club is eager to build on its early summer business following the confirmation of Jeremie Frimpong's $39.8M transfer from Leverkusen on Friday.

Wirtz has been in scintillating form this season, notching up 10 goals and laying on 12 assists, accolades which contributed to him being named Player's Player of the Year in Germany. His family communicated his leanings towards Liverpool to Bayern a week prior, with president Herbert Hainer disclosing the next day: "Max Eberl (sporting director) informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool. I can't say how things will continue with Leverkusen."

The question now looms as to what prompted Wirtz's change of heart, especially considering Bayern's confidence in him becoming a cornerstone of their future alongside Jamal Musiala.

(Image: Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)

This week, whispers of a "secret meeting" between Bayern and the player have been circulating, with Munich-based newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung shedding light on the discussions between Vincent Kompany's team and Wirtz's representatives.

Interestingly, it was reported that Kompany's tactical presentation fell short in comparison to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, who apparently outlined a more coherent plan for Wirtz's integration into Liverpool's line-up.

Rumors also suggest that Wirtz was informed he would need to share tactical responsibilities with Musiala at Bayern, a prospect the player reportedly wasn't too keen on as he plans his career progression.

However, Bayern may have made a crucial mistake weeks before their meeting with Wirtz, which could have tipped the scales in favor of Liverpool. Labeled a "fatal" error by Suddeutsche Zeitung, it's suggested that Bayern received a "commitment" from the player's parents during initial negotiations, which they wrongly interpreted as a guarantee of Wirtz's move to Bavaria.

This overconfidence reportedly led to Bayern "taking their foot off the gas." Upon learning about Wirtz's trip to England and subsequent interest from Liverpool, Bayern officials were reportedly taken aback to discover that the Leverkusen man had chosen Anfield as his next destination.

Of course, there's still plenty of work ahead for Hughes and Liverpool, but securing Wirtz's signature would be a major coup for the Premier League champions, marking a significant triumph over their European competitors.

Click here to read article