Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz after he was initially a target for Manchester City earlier in the summer.

Florian Wirtz rejected Manchester City and not the other way around, according to the ultimate Liverpool source who has also revealed why the Reds were chosen ahead of Bayern Munich.

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich pitched heritage and national pride. For a young German, that could have been irresistible. Manchester City, backed by infinite wealth, leaned on the presence of Pep Guardiola. But Wirtz saw through the glitz. Guardiola’s uncertain future and lack of personal involvement in talks raised red flags.