Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl had laid out the red carpet for Liverpool to sign Florian Wirtz after revealing his side simply cannot compete financially.
Liverpool’s third offer for the Bayer Leverkusen star is £100million plus £14m in add-ons, though the German outfit’s dream number would be £126m.
Leverkusen have not outright rejected that bid but negotiations are ongoing over whether Liverpool can increase the package of bonus payments.
Wirtz’s preference has seemingly been Liverpool and German newspaper Bild reported in May that his father rang Bayern to tell them his future is at Anfield.
Now, in a comment which underscores the growing financial disparity between the Premier League and its rivals, Eberl says the finances would have made competing difficult anyway.
‘If I’m honest, I don’t know if we could have paid what Liverpool are apparently paying now,’ the Bayern grandee told Sky Germany.
The money involved in the Florian Wirtz deal is too great for Bayern Munich, a club chief said
Liverpool’s third bid weighs in at £100million plus £14m in add-onds for the Germany star
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl admits Bayern can only ‘imagine’ signing him
‘Florian Wirtz is an outstanding player. We could have imagined signing him. But when a door closes, another opens.’
That said, a recent Bild report claimed that Bayern would have been willing to offer the 22-year-old a better pay packet than the Reds.
Liverpool have made it clear they did not wish to pay the £126m asking price but are continuing to work with Leverkusen to find a middle ground.
If the deal exceeds the £115m that Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo in 2023 then it will break the British transfer record.
Manchester City also pulled out of the race earlier this summer due to the spiralling costs involved.
Liverpool have already signed Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for £29.5m and plan to add Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth as they look to wrap up Wirtz.
They still have designs on improving their forward options and centre of defence before the end of the summer.
Germany international Wirtz is regarded as one of the best playmakers in European football and has already spoken in detail with manager Arne Slot over how he will fit into the Dutchman’s plans.
