Liverpool have WON the battle to sign Florian Wirtz, with Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer admitting defeat.

But after five years with Leverkusen - playing a part in their Bundesliga success in 2023-24 - he has grown keen on a new challenge.

Bayern have been pursuing a move for almost two years and had believed until recently that Wirtz preferred a move to Munich.



But the player’s father, Hans-Joachim, who also acts as his agent, informed the club’s hierarchy this week that the young star is heading elsewhere.

Bayern Munich release Florian Wirtz statement involving Liverpool	Bayern Munich chief breaks silence on Florian Wirtz transfer with Liverpool statement	Liverpool 'move step closer to stunning Florian Wirtz transfer' - with German superstar 'now in FAVOUR of Anfield move as Bayern Munich concede he will NOT be joining them if he leaves Bayer Leverkusen'

On Saturday, Bayern president Hainer declared: “Max Eberl [sporting director] informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool.”

In Germany, it’s claimed that the 29-cap German star - who has been arguably the Bundesliga’s best player over the last two seasons - wants a new challenge.

Recent suggestions dropped into the German media that if Leverkusen stuck to their £120million asking price, Bayern would just wait and sign Wirtz for cheaper in 2026, subsequently did not sit well.

Hoeness, speaking last weekend after Bayern's Bundesliga title triumph, was asked about a deal for Wirtz and responded confidently: "We'll provide you with facts at some point.

Florian Wirtz is set to join Liverpool.

When the player and his camp met most recently with Bayern chiefs, including Eberl, club supremo Uli Hoeness and head coach Vincent Kompany, they were left feeling a little underwhelmed, questions over his role in the Bayern side going largely unanswered.

The complete opposite is believed to have been true of the Wirtz family’s recent meetings with Liverpool chiefs, who outlined exactly how they see the player fitting in on Merseyside, with Arne Slot's pitch and the tactical detail he went into understood to have been both impressive and crucial.

All told, that has seen Wirtz decide to move to Liverpool, with Bayern now looking to save face as they try to explain how their No.1 target was allowed to get away.

A mega-money deal to join the Premier League winners will make Wirtz the second Bayer Leverkusen player to swap the BayArena for Anfield, with Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong also joining, replacing Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold.