Bayern Munich do not currently need to sign Florian Wirtz at a premium price because they already have several options in attacking midfield, supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said.
However, Rummenigge did not rule out the possibility of the club making another move for the Germany international in the future.
Asked by the Munchner Abendzeitung whether Bayern Munich would pursue Wirtz again after failing to sign him in spring 2025, Rummenigge stressed that transfer decisions were not his responsibility.
“First of all, that’s not my responsibility,” he said.
Rummenigge added that negotiations and recruitment were handled by the club’s board of directors, rather than the supervisory board.
He also pointed to the alternatives already available to Bayern Munich in the position Wirtz generally occupies.
“And don’t forget, both Musiala and Gnabry can play there, and we have other alternatives like Sabitzer,” said Rummenigge. “There’s no need to sign a fourth player for that position at the price Wirtz might demand. So I say, every player must think carefully before making each decision.”
Wirtz chose Liverpool after Bayern Munich’s earlier attempt to sign him was unsuccessful. Rummenigge said he had been surprised by the player’s difficulties since moving to the Premier League club.
“To be honest, yes,” he said when asked whether Wirtz’s struggles at Liverpool had surprised him.
“We had the impression at the time that he joined Liverpool because then-manager Arne Slot promised him the attacking midfield role, where he played at Leverkusen. That was an important factor in his decision. The financial package wasn’t significantly different. He made his choice, and we respected it.”
Slot has since left Liverpool, while Wirtz has been used on the wing on several occasions. The midfielder has produced disappointing results in that role and has struggled to find his form under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Despite those difficulties, Rummenigge said he could not say whether Wirtz might eventually consider another move. He also said he did not know whether the player was happy at Liverpool.
“As for whether other opportunities might emerge down the line? I don’t know,” Rummenigge said. “The question is whether Wirtz is happy at Liverpool, and I can’t judge that.”
Rummenigge revealed that he and Uli Hoeneß had previously been in contact with Wirtz’s parents, but said the family ultimately chose a different destination.
“Uli (Hoeneß) and I were in contact with his parents for a while,” he said. “In the end, they made a different choice, and we respect that decision.”
