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Former Bayern Munich defender Thomas Helmer is desperate for Florian Wirtz to snub Liverpool and stay in the Bundesliga.

The Reds appear to be leading the race for Wirtz's signature after seeing a second bid turned down for the player.

It's believed Liverpool offered Bayer Leverkusen $149 million for the 22-year-old attacking midfielder, but the German team wants $171 million.

Recent reports suggest Liverpool's owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is willing to spend $171 million on Wirtz, with both the Reds and Leverkusen looking to wrap up the transfer saga.

He backed that up with a stellar 2024-25 campaign, which saw him score 16 goals and provide 15 assists in all competitions.

Regardless of whether he joins Liverpool, Wirtz is widely expected to leave Leverkusen this summer, as the club looks to rebuild under new manager Erik ten Hag.

"If Florian Wirtz goes to the Premier League, it would be very bad for the Bundesliga," Wirtz told Casino Beats.

"For me, Wirtz is one of the best attacking players at the moment.

He’s almost more valuable for the German national team than Jamal Musiala, although both are top players and of course they are both still young.

"That's why it'd be very, very sad for the Bundesliga and for Bayern Munich.

They already have top players, and from what I've seen of them, I believe he will fit in well."

If Wirtz decides to snub Liverpool and join Bayern, Helmer believes the German team will need to change its system to accommodate the youngster