Liverpool are set to win the race for Florian Wirtz, with the likes of Bayern Munich missing out on the Bayer Leverkusen star.

The Germany international had at one point looked poised to join the Bundesliga champions this summer, yet Liverpool have now taken a commanding lead for Wirtz in a deal that will be a club-record deal for the Reds.

At 22-years-old and one of the best players in the world already, Liverpool are close to securing one of their biggest deals in recent memory, with Wirtz a talent that can take Arne Slot’s side to a whole new level next season.

Yet based on recent reports, Liverpool’s pending capture of Wirtz could lead to the Reds shooting themselves in the foot.

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With Liverpool set to land Wirtz, Bayern have turned their attention to Cody Gakpo, with the Anfield attacker now on the German giants radar as an alternative to the Leverkusen superstar alongside the likes of Kaoru Mitoma and Rafael Leao.

Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s best players this season, with the Netherlands international flourishing under Slot and in turn playing a crucial role in the Merseyside giants winning the Premier League title by ten points.

With Gakpo equaling records set by Mohamed Salah at Liverpool this season, the former PSV Eindhoven star has seemingly cracked the code on how to flourish in the Reds’ attack, with Wirtz’s arrival something that would have taken the winger to the next level.

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Which is why Bayern’s interest in Gakpo could lead to Liverpool hurting only themselves even after signing Wirtz, with the two players suited to play alongside each other in the attack, yet this dream could be ruined if the Bavarian giants land the 26-year-old this summer.

With Wirtz capable of playing out on the left, it makes sense why Bayern are now eyeing Gakpo as a potential alternative, with the Liverpool winger a player who could thrive in the Bundesliga alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Michael Olise.

Yet for Liverpool, the Reds simply can’t allow a player of Gakpo’s attacking quality to leave to a European rival, especially after the season the Dutchman has just had under Slot and with a world-class creator in Wirtz joining the fold.

Liverpool fans are yet to see Gakpo at his peak after his best season yet for the Reds, and selling to a club like Bayern will be a decision that a lot of supporters will not stand by given the wigner’s performances under Slot.