FLORIAN WIRTZ has hit out at reports claiming he wants to snatch a Liverpool star’s shirt number to join the club.
The German ace is on the brink of joining the Reds if they can strike a deal with Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayer have already rejected an offer worth £109million as they hold out for a British transfer record payment of £126m (€150 million).
A report from Sky Sport Germany claimed the 22-year-old wanted to be given the No10 shirt if he joins the Anfield outfit – having already agreed personal terms.
However, Wirtz has directly addressed that claim on social media.
Taking to his Instagram story, he wrote: “Who says I want the 10 [emoji].
“I respect players.
“Don’t believe everything that’s written,” followed by a clown emoji.
World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is the current owner of the shirt, having taken it when he joined Liverpool from Brighton in 2023.
Wirtz wears the No10 for his club but wears the No17 for the German national team.
Previous owners of the No10 shirt at Liverpool include Sadio Mane, Joe Cole, Michael Owen, John Barnes and Billy Liddell, among others.
Arne Slot’s promise that Wirtz would be the playmaker of Liverpool’s team was reportedly a decisive factor in convincing him to join them over Bayern Munich or Manchester City.
City pulled out of the race early after realising the cost of the overall package to land the German could set them back £252m.
SunSport have looked at how he could fit in at Liverpool next season, partnering Mohamed Salah and Co.
Wirtz will become the biggest English transfer of all time if Liverpool stump up the money Bayer are demanding to sell him.
Liverpool have already announced the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from the club in a £29.5m deal.
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