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Joshua Kimmich becomes first Bayern Munich player to break silence on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

Florian Wirtz has chosen to sign for Liverpool ahead of Bayern Munich as the Reds struck a £116m agreement

Joshua Kimmich.
Joshua Kimmich.(Image: Photo by Tobias Schwarz / AFP)

Joshua Kimmich has admitted that Bayern Munich are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements as the German giants reel from missing out on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool. On Friday, the Reds struck an agreement that could be worth a British record £116million for Bayer Leverkusen attacker Wirtz.

Bundesliga champions Bayern had initially been considered front-runners to sign Wirtz, only for Arne Slot and Liverpool to convince the 22-year-old to move to Merseyside.


Wirtz informed the Reds of his decision in May, paving the way for Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes to thrash out an agreement with Leverkusen counterpart Simon Rolfes, with Bayern - who had been confident of striking a deal themselves - disappointed.


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It leaves Bayern on the lookout for recruits with club legend Thomas Muller released and winger Leroy Sane choosing not to renew his contract and instead sign for Turkish giants Galatasaray.

And with Vincent Kompany's side competing in FIFA's new Club World Cup competition in the United States, Kimmich believes big name exits and Wirtz's decision leave Bayern light in attack.

"You'll have to ask the club what their plans are," he said. "Of course, you have the feeling that we could do something – with Flo (Wirtz) not coming, with Leroy leaving, with Thomas leaving.

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“I was surprised that he (Sane) is going to Turkey. I didn't expect that. But it's his decision and he'll have his reasons for it.”

Kompany wouldn't be drawn on transfers but sporting director Max Eberl previously made no secret of Bayern's disappointment at missing out on Wirtz and the need to spend in the transfer market.

He said: "I am sure that we will have a competitive team - and that we will also have the finances under control."


And on Wirtz, he added: ""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.

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“We have a clear plan on how we want to implement things. But there's still a lot to do. I'm certain we will have a very strong squad."

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