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Bayern Munich's sporting director, Max Eberl, has stated that Florian Wirtz 'is free to visit' any club he wishes, following reports of the player meeting with English clubs earlier this week.
Liverpool have shown interest in the attacking midfielder, potentially setting up a significant transfer battle with the German champions in the summer window.
Reports from England and Germany suggest that Bayer Leverkusen's Wirtz and his parents flew to England on Tuesday to consider his future options.
Initially, Manchester City was the focus, with claims of Wirtz touring their facilities, but Liverpool's name later emerged as part of the conversation.
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According to the Echo, the 22-year-old has long been admired at Anfield, and this has been communicated to the player.
The Reds are now ready to compete with Bayern and City for his signature.
German media reacted with surprise to the news of Wirtz's discussions in England, having previously reported that Bayern were almost certain to secure the £125m-rated talent.
Eberl addressed the situation at a press conference, stating: "If Florian Wirtz and his family made this trip, they'll have their reasons.
It's not our place to comment on that.
"Florian Wirtz is free to visit Liverpool, Manchester, Madrid or whatever with his family and friends."
Regarding Bayern Munich's approach to the bustling summer transfer window, Eberl spoke candidly about the challenges presented by speculation, stating: "There's a lot of speculation in Munich, and everyone has their own opinion.
That's what we did with the contract extensions and we want to do the same with transfers."
Currently, Wirtz boasts a Bundesliga title with Leverkusen under his belt, achieving a level of success that challenged Bayern's 13-year dominance.
Leverkusen faces the dilemma of not wanting to reinforce a direct competitor while also aiming to secure top dollar for their star player amid heightened interest from heavyweights like Liverpool and City.
Wirtz himself appears open to embarking on a fresh endeavor, recently expressing: "I'm pretty lucky that I have so many excellent clubs right on my doorstep and that I can now play for one of the best clubs in Germany and Europe.
"I have a lot of respect for the lads here in Leverkusen who come from South America or Africa, for example, and leave their families and surroundings behind for their careers.
"It definitely appeals to me to leave my comfort zone at some point and experience something new I know football locker rooms well enough and I'm convinced that I would quickly settle in wherever I go.
"I keep seeing posts about me on social media.
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