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Liverpool and Bayern Munich have become the leading contenders in the Florian Wirtz transfer after Manchester City withdrew their interest in the 22-year-old German international earlier this week.

Wirtz, an attacking midfielder who has just completed an outstanding season with 16 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, is regarded as one of the most sought-after players in Europe.

For Liverpool’s part, they have escalated their pursuit of Wirtz following a meeting with the player’s family in Blackpool last week.

German outlet BILD, claims that some of Liverpool’s chiefs have travelled to the US to hold discussions around the signing of Wirtz.

The Reds are said to be prepared to shatter their transfer record with a bid exceeding £126 million (€150 million) to meet Leverkusen’s possible valuation.

Despite this bold move, Bayern Munich remain self-assured?

Sporting director Max Eberl publicly stated Wirtz is “free to visit” suitors, a comment interpreted as confidence in their longstanding position as favourites.

Internally, Bayern believes the player’s preference leans toward staying in Germany, either with Leverkusen for another season or joining them directly.

Bayer Leverkusen’s €150 million price tag has already deterred Manchester City, who withdrew from the race due to financial concerns.

However, sources suggest Leverkusen may offer a discounted rate to non-Bundesliga clubs to avoid strengthening domestic rivals like Bayern.

Leverkusen have not sold a player to Bayern Munich since 2004.

This potential  “discount” could advantage Liverpool, though the fee would still surpass their previous record £85 million outlay for Darwin Núñez.

Now a fresh reporter from German outlet Kicker, who has been reporting closely on this developing saga, has claimed that Wirtz now has a timescale for his decision.

It’s reported that the Reds made a strong impression in last week’s meeting, presenting Wirtz as the centrepiece of their next-generation team at Anfield.

This aggressive approach has caught Bayern’s attention, as such a high-value deal would be unusual for Liverpool, though the appeal of the Premier League and Anfield could sway Wirtz.

As a result, it’s claimed that the 22-year-old is set to make a decision over Liverpool or Bayern in the next 10 days.

Head coach Vincent Kompany has had extensive discussions with Wirtz about his potential role in Munich, hoping to convince him to join.

Bayern are so focused on Wirtz that they have not lined up an alternative should he turn them down, according to the report.

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