Germany's Rhineland clubs - namely Leverkusen, Koln and Borussia Monchengladbach - were all reported to have a gentleman's agreement not to 'steal' one another's youth talent, dating back to 2001, when Koln tracked and signed Leverkusen's then-12-year-old starlet Marco Quotschalla with the lure of an eight-year contract.

It appears that Wirtz fancies a switch to Liverpool rather than staying in Germany with Bayern, despite the Reds having multiple offers turned down. Rumours then swirled of Real Madrid potentially swooping for the playmaker to disrupt a potential move to Anfield.

Florian Wirtz has denied reports that he wants the No. 10 shirt if he joins Liverpool this summer, in the Bayer Leverkusen star's strongest hint yet that a move to Anfield is progressing.