Manchester City may have missed out on securing a deal with because of concerns he had about Pep Guardiola's dedication to the club. have stepped up their pursuit of the German striker, as following previous interest from both City and .

With a valuation of £126million, , who now appear in pole position to sign the star following discussions with the German outfit.

reported that Wirtz was unsure about , which may have swayed his transfer preference. However, any wider doubts about the Spaniard's future were quashed when he this past November, keeping him at the club until 2027.

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following Leverkusen's heavy 4-0 loss in the . He was stunned by the stadium's overpowering atmosphere and iconic stature in the competition.

Leverkusen's managing director, Simon Rolfes, confirmed the Reds' keen interest in a recent press conference, but insists that the striker hasn't headed out the door just yet. He said: "It's currently an open subject with Florian. There is concrete interest from Liverpool, but there's no more to say right now. Florian is our player."

In an interview with the German edition of , Wirtz candidly opened up about prioritising his career over financial gains previously, showcasing his dedication to the sport.

Wirtz said: "When I moved from Cologne to Leverkusen, I didn't think for a second about what my salary would be.

"I was only interested in what would be best for my career. I don't think about how much money I have in my account, or how much I could earn in the future.

"The sporting perspective is much more important than money. My parents would be angry if I ever gave money priority."

Liverpool fans will be further excited by Wirtz potentially joining their club, as icon of his ex-Germany teammate.

Speaking to , the six-time Champions League winner said: "If he thinks that’s the best next step for him and his career, then that's good. You can technically only judge decisions like this afterwards, of course.

"He [Wirtz] is a player who can prevail at any club in the , in my opinion. It doesn't matter if it would've been Bayern or Liverpool, it's different from being at Leverkusen for sure — but he has all the tools to assert himself at any given top club."

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