Florian Wirtz snubbed Man City for $170M Liverpool transfer 'due to Pep Guardiola concerns'

Florian Wirtz snubbed Man City for $170M Liverpool transfer 'due to Pep Guardiola concerns'

Liverpool now appearx to be in pole position to sign Florian Wirtz after opening talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a $170 million deal for the German international

Florian Wirtz has reportedly snubbed Manchester City amid concerns over Pep Guardiola's long-term commitment, giving Liverpool a boost in its chase for the Bayer Leverkusen sensation.

The Reds have stepped up their interest in the German international after initiating discussions with Leverkusen recently. Despite earlier competition from both City and Bayern Munich for the playmaker's services, Liverpool seems to be leading the race for the $170 million-rated star following the commencement of negotiations.

According to German outlet BILD, doubts about Guardiola's tenure at City until 2027 have swayed Wirtz's preference towards Liverpool. Guardiola quashed rumors about his future by signing a new deal until 2025 last November.

BILD's report also suggests that Wirtz was captivated by the unique Anfield atmosphere and the club's stature after experiencing it during Leverkusen's 4-0 Champions League loss at the venue in November.

Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen's managing director, acknowledged Liverpool's interest during a press conference, stating: "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 a candid interview with the German edition of Sports Illustrated, Wirtz shared insights into his priorities, emphasising that his career choices are driven by sporting prospects rather than financial gain.

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He remarked: "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."

Meanwhile, ex-Germany teammate and Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos offered a glowing verdict on the Liverpool target.

"If he thinks that’s the best next step for him and his career, then that's good," Kroos is quoted as saying by Bulinews. "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.

Kroos added (via Suddeutsche Zeitung): "It was just obvious to everyone that he was going to Bayern. I didn't know that, and in my old way, I didn't believe it at first when someone wrote that."