Liverpool are entering the final stages of negotiations to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and the arrival of the playmaker could spark the exits of others
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has claimed he is unaware of any interest from Bayern Munich. The Reds’ pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has sparked rumours that their other forwards could be sold to help fund the move.
Liverpool remain in talks with Leverkusen over a deal for Wirtz, with their latest bid of £100million plus £13m in add-ons rejected. But they are expected to return with a fourth and final offer, worth £118m, to get a Premier League record move across the line.
With a new star potentially arriving on Merseyside, there are doubts surrounding the futures of Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz. While Nunez has been linked with Atletico Madrid and Diaz with Barcelona, it is Bayern who are reportedly eyeing Gakpo, having missed out on signing Wirtz.
Mirror Football understands that Liverpool boss Arne Slot has little interest in parting ways with Gakpo this summer after the Dutchman played a role in the club winning the Premier League title. And it seems that Gakpo is of the same opinion, having addressed the reports while on international duty.
“I haven’t heard anything about it myself. I’m closing myself off from it,” he said ahead of the Netherlands’ 2-0 victory over Finland in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. “Maybe my agent has heard something, but I’m focusing on myself.”
Gakpo joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven for £40m in January 2023 and still has three years left on his contract. He has 41 goals and 17 assists in 128 games for the club so far and, at 26, looks set to be a key player going forward.
Bayern’s interest has surfaced due to the expected departure of Leroy Sane, who will leave the German giants with a gap to fill on the left wing. Bayern had believed they were at the front of the queue to sign Wirtz from Leverkusen, only for the 22-year-old to communicate his desire to join Liverpool instead.
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Gakpo would appear to be a difficult target for Bayern, given his enjoyment of playing under Slot in the 2024/25 campaign. “I think he offered me a lot. The first thing he did was change my position slightly, so back to the left,” he said recently.
“That was maybe a small change on paper but for me it was a big change. Then I had to come into the team as well and he gave me the chance to show myself.
“Obviously he’s trying to help me to develop myself in moments in the game, how to be smarter, how to be better, how to get yourself more in scoring positions and giving the decisive pass and everything like this.
“He’s helping me a lot. The manager and the staff, they try to help everybody, and I think everybody can see a lot of players are developing well.”