Liverpool's Support for Florian Wirtz Amid Bayern Munich Speculation
Liverpool shut down talk of a quick Florian Wirtz exit to Bayern Munich, with senior figures at Anfield still backing the German playmaker to come good despite his stuttering start in England.
The 22-year-old arrived in the summer of 2025 as the centrepiece of Liverpool’s post-title rebuild, part of a £400m splurge following their Premier League triumph. The club paid a huge £116m to prise him from Bayer Leverkusen, where he had been the standout star of their 2024/25 Bundesliga-winning side.
Since then? Flashes. Not dominance.
Wirtz has shown glimpses of the talent that made him one of Europe’s most coveted attackers, but he has struggled to consistently hit the same heights in a Liverpool shirt. The price tag, the expectations, the role change under Andoni Iraola – all of it has sharpened the scrutiny.
Paul Merson has already gone public with his doubts. Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Arsenal midfielder didn’t sugar-coat it, insisting Wirtz at Liverpool “just isn’t working” and openly questioning how long the club can wait for a full return on their investment.
“I don’t know how long they can wait on Florian Wirtz,” Merson said. “I’m a big fan of him, I think he’s a special player. But it isn’t working; it just isn’t working. I don’t know how long they can wait.”
Those comments landed at the same time as reports in Germany and England suggested Bayern Munich could try to tempt Wirtz back to the Bundesliga. The narrative almost wrote itself: a German star under pressure in England, Bayern watching, Liverpool possibly open to a reshuffle.
Only, that’s not the picture being painted by those close to the situation.
Liverpool still backing their £116m man
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke has poured cold water on the idea that Liverpool are preparing to cut their losses. His information is that the club hierarchy remain invested in Wirtz’s long-term role under Iraola.
“They’re still relying on him,” O’Rourke told Football Insider. “I don’t think there are any plans on Liverpool’s end to offload Florian Wirtz anytime soon. I don’t think they’re ready to write him off just yet.
“He was very impressive in that Champions League win against Atletico Madrid earlier this month as well. So look, it’s up to Andoni Iraola to find the best position for him in the team and try and get the best out of Florian Wirtz.”
That Atletico performance has been a key reference point inside the club: a reminder of why they pushed so hard to beat Europe’s elite to his signature.
Bayern links dismissed – but the door isn’t bolted forever
From Germany, the message is equally firm on one key point: Bayern are not currently lining up a shock raid.
Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk has categorically denied claims that the Bundesliga champions are actively tracking Wirtz with a view to a near-term move.
Falk told CF Bayern Insider: “It is NOT TRUE: Bayern Munich are tracking Florian Wirtz and could make a shock move for the Liverpool player. My information is that this is not true.”
“Of course, there is a big history between FC Bayern and Wirtz. There were two secret meetings before he decided on Liverpool: the first one in Munich and then in Liverpool as well. At the time, Arne Slot persuaded the German international to switch to Merseyside. If there is such a connection, you’re always going to have rumours – even more so when there are concerns over his performance levels in England.”
Falk pushed back on some of that concern too, arguing that Wirtz is actually trending upwards in his current role.
“To be clear, I don’t necessarily share those concerns; I think Wirtz is performing better than he did last year. He has a new position in the team. On the other hand, you have an ongoing topic with Jamal Musiala, where he’s not in his best possible shape at the moment due to his illness following his injury struggles last year.”
So Bayern are not circling right now. But the idea of Wirtz in Bavaria refuses to disappear.
The Olise factor and talk of a future swap
Where the story twists is in the context of Michael Olise.
Vincent Kompany has started to build his Bayern attack with Olise as a central fulcrum, mirroring the role he plays for France. Musiala remains a core piece with a long contract. The squad is stacked, the options varied, and yet the long-term futures of some of those attacking talents are still being debated.
That’s where the speculation over a possible swap deal – Wirtz to Bayern, Olise to Liverpool – has crept in.
Falk didn’t endorse the scenario as imminent, but he didn’t completely dismiss the logic behind it either.
“So, you can see where some reports have taken these conditions and claimed that one plus one equals two,” he said. “Of course, if Florian Wirtz were, at some point in future, interested in making a return to the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich would be the first team he’d talk to. However, there is nothing planned.
“Bayern have a big squad and everyone’s feeling really confident. Musiala has a long contract and don’t forget that Vincent Kompany is trying a new system with Michael Olise as the fulcrum in the centre – the same position he currently plays in for the French national team. So, FC Bayern have a lot of options. Don’t forget, either, that it was a lot of money Liverpool paid for Wirtz.”
On the hypothetical of Wirtz being used in an Olise deal, Falk added another layer.
“Everyone is hoping the former Crystal Palace star signs a new contract, but if not, and he decides for a transfer, of course Florian Wirtz would be a player who’s interesting for Bayern Munich.
“The German can play on the side or centrally. This would be a very interesting thing, and if you make a swap deal with Liverpool or sell Olise for a lot of money to Real Madrid, you have the money to make an offer for Wirtz.”
“So, there are many, many positions which have to be discussed. I wouldn’t say it’s not true that Bayern Munich would have thought of that.”
For now, though, it remains theory, not strategy.
Liverpool are still banking on the player they fought so hard – and paid so much – to sign. Bayern, by all informed accounts, are not yet at the stage of turning old meetings and long-standing admiration into a concrete move.
The question now is no longer about secret talks or swap fantasies. It’s far simpler, and far more brutal: can Florian Wirtz finally bend the Premier League to his will, or will the rumours keep circling until one of Europe’s giants tests Liverpool’s resolve for real?
