'He is exactly the player we want' - Bayern Munich reiterate plan to sign Florian Wirtz as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge highlights 'difficulty' in signing Bayer Leverkusen star

Wirtz has been a target for Bayern for some time now but remains a Bayer Leverkusen player. However, the defending Bundesliga champions may face a tough task holding onto the German international as club CEO Rummenigge says Bayern are determined to sign him. He hailed the 21-year-old as Germany's "best player" but said it won't be easy trying to secure his signature.

Rummenigge, who is now on the Bayern board, told AZ: "[Uli] Hoeness said that Wirtz is his dream - and that was putting it politely. Everyone at FC Bayern agrees that he is exactly the player we want to sign. Not to weaken Leverkusen, but to strengthen us. Wirtz is the best player in Germany.

"It's not the market value that's important, but the amount that would ultimately have to be paid in a transfer. That will undoubtedly be difficult because Wirtz is a very sought-after player."

Wirtz still has more than two years left on his Leverkusen contract and is rated at around €150 million (£124m/$155m), which the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid are said to be interested in paying. So as Rummenigge points out, signing him will be very difficult.

Wirtz, who has scored 15 goals and bagged 13 assists this season, is likely to feature for Leverkusen away to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday.