Florian Wirtz is closing in on a move to Liverpool after rejecting Bayern Munich and the transfer has been called a "real shame" for the Bundesliga by Hans-Joachim Watzke
Florian Wirtz's impending move to Liverpool has been branded a "real shame" by Borussia Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke. Liverpool have agreed a deal worth £116million with Bayer Leverkusen and Wirtz is set to arrive in the UK for his medical later this week.
The Reds are due to pay £100m up front plus an additional £16m in add-ons and the deal will break the British transfer record if those bonuses are achieved. Both Manchester City and Bayern Munich were also interested in signing the 22-year-old.
City viewed Wirtz as a potential replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, but pulled out of the race due to financial concerns and have since spent £46.3m on Tijjani Reijnders and £34m on Rayan Cherki instead.
Bayern, meanwhile, missed out on Wirtz after the player was convinced to join Liverpool by manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes. However, Watzke is disappointed to see one of Germany's top talents leaving the Bundesliga and claims he would have preferred to see Wirtz join Bayern.
"It's a real shame, especially for the DFL (German Football League), that a player like Florian Wirtz is disappearing from the Bundesliga," Watzke told kicker. "I wouldn't have had a problem at all if he had gone to FC Bayern.
"That would have been better for the Bundesliga. He could have played better with Musiala in Munich, but two such good footballers find each other anyway."
Bayern star Joshua Kimmich has also spoken out about his club's failed move for Wirtz, with the midfielder claiming they are now short of attacking options after Leroy Sane joined Galatasaray and it was announced that Thomas Muller will be leaving when his contract expires.
"You'll have to ask the club what their plans are," Kimmich said. "Of course, you have the feeling that we could do something – with Flo (Wirtz) not coming, with Leroy leaving, with Thomas leaving.
"I was surprised that (Sane) is going to Turkey. I didn't expect that. But it's his decision and he'll have his reasons for it."
Kimmich's comments after Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl explained that the club would not have been able to match money Liverpool are paying for Wirtz. "I am sure that we will have a competitive team - and that we will also have the finances under control," Eberl said.
"If I'm honest, I don't know if we could have paid what Liverpool are apparently paying now. Florian Wirtz is an outstanding player. We could have imagined signing him. But when a door closes, another opens.
The focus is on the squad we have here. We've brought along some young players, and now we've added two Germany internationals in Tom Bischof and Jonathan Tah, who have come in on free transfers. That's already a big step."