Bayern Watches as Liverpool Struggles to Unlock £116m Wirtz

LIVERPOOL, England — Florian Wirtz has recorded one assist and no goals through the opening five matches of the season under new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola. The German midfielder is facing a high-stakes tactical and financial challenge after joining Liverpool for £116 million ($150 million), while Bayern Munich maintains a close watch on his development.

Iraola took charge at Anfield after former manager Arne Slot departed on May 30, 2026, inheriting a squad in transition. His system, previously implemented at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, is built around high-intensity vertical pressing and rapid transitions, demanding disciplined physical output alongside creative freedom.

Wirtz’s difficult start follows a debut season in which he struggled with the physical demands of English football. He registered five goals and three assists in 33 Premier League appearances, while Liverpool’s wider decline ended with a fifth-place finish and no UEFA Champions League qualification.

The coaching staff is now tasked with defining a role that allows Wirtz to contribute within Iraola’s setup and justifies Liverpool’s massive capital expenditure. The upcoming months of the Premier League and European campaigns will provide a critical checkpoint for the player and the club.

Liverpool’s ownership group, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), had moved away from its historically conservative transfer policy in the summer of 2025 to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool outbid domestic rivals Manchester City for one of Europe’s most highly sought-after creative talents, with Swedish forward Alexander Isak also arriving as part of the major squad overhaul.

Bayern Munich had pursued Wirtz extensively before his move to the Premier League but ultimately chose not to match the record-setting valuation established by Liverpool. According to transfer reports from TEAMtalk, the Munich club’s sporting department remains highly attentive to his situation.

Wirtz became an elite prospect at Bayer Leverkusen, where he was the club’s youngest-ever Bundesliga debutant in 2020. A major anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in March 2022 interrupted his progress, but he returned to play a central role in Leverkusen’s undefeated domestic double under manager Xabi Alonso during the 2023–24 season.

That period also solidified Wirtz’s status as a key figure for the German national team under Julian Nagelsmann. Bayern has historically sought to consolidate leading German talent, previously signing Leroy Sané, Leon Goretzka, and Manuel Neuer.

There is no indication that Liverpool is actively looking to sell Wirtz or that the player is seeking an exit. Bayern’s continued monitoring reflects a strategic readiness to act if Liverpool’s commitment to the midfielder wavers.

If Iraola successfully integrates Wirtz into the starting eleven, transfer speculation is expected to subside. If the midfielder continues to struggle for form, Bayern Munich’s long-term interest could transition from passive monitoring into an active pursuit.