Liverpool Stand Firm on Florian Wirtz Amid Bayern Munich Links

Liverpool have no intention of cashing in on Florian Wirtz or sending him back to Germany, despite growing noise around Bayern Munich and questions over his impact at Anfield.

The Germany international arrived in the summer of 2025 as the headline act of a lavish rebuild. Fresh from a Premier League title, Liverpool spent over £400m reshaping the squad, with Wirtz the jewel of the window: a £116m signing from Bayer Leverkusen, where he had been the outstanding figure in their 2024/25 Bundesliga-winning campaign.

The fee, the hype, the expectation – all of it placed Wirtz under an unforgiving spotlight. So far, he has flickered rather than burned. There have been bursts of the old Leverkusen magic, but not yet the sustained dominance Liverpool thought they were buying. The pressure is building for him to turn flashes into full performances.

Paul Merson has been one of the most outspoken voices on the situation, arguing that the move has not clicked so far.

“I don’t know how long they can wait on Florian Wirtz,” he told Sky Sports. “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 fresh links to Bayern Munich, fuelling talk of an early escape route and a return to the Bundesliga. But that narrative is being firmly pushed back from both England and Germany.

From the Liverpool side, Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke insists the club hierarchy are not preparing an exit strategy.

“They’re still relying on him,” O’Rourke said. “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 performance against Atletico is exactly the kind of reminder Liverpool point to when defending their investment: a big European night, a big stage, and Wirtz finally looking like the player who tore through the Bundesliga.

Over in Germany, the Bayern angle is being played down just as strongly. Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk moved to shut down talk of an imminent approach from the Bundesliga champions.

“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,” Falk said on CF Bayern Insider.

He did, though, underline why the rumours refuse to die. Bayern and Wirtz already share a history.

“Of course, there is a big history between FC Bayern and Wirtz,” Falk explained. “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.

“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.”

That last point matters. Bayern’s attacking structure is already built around Musiala and, increasingly, Michael Olise. Vincent Kompany is experimenting with Olise as the central fulcrum, mirroring his role for France. It gives Bayern a wealth of options in the very zone where Wirtz would naturally operate.

Which is where the conversation turns from straight transfer to something more complex: the idea of a future swap.

The Olise–Wirtz equation

Falk refused to completely dismiss the prospect that Wirtz could one day be part of a bigger puzzle involving Michael Olise, whether with Liverpool or Real Madrid in the frame.

“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 possibility of a swap-style scenario, Falk accepted that the concept is at least plausible in the long term, even if it is not on anyone’s desk right now.

“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,” he added.

“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, that remains theory, not plan. Liverpool are holding their ground, Bayern are not actively pushing, and Wirtz is still trying to prove he belongs at the heart of a new era at Anfield.

The question is no longer whether he has the talent. It’s how long Liverpool are prepared to wait for that £116m version of Florian Wirtz to show up every week.