Bayern Munich do not expect to renew their interest in Florian Wirtz in the near future, despite the Germany international’s difficult start to life at Liverpool.
The 23-year-old joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a €137m (£116m) transfer last year, after helping Leverkusen complete an unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2023-24.
However, Wirtz has yet to reproduce his best form under either Arne Slot or Andoni Iraola. He has scored seven goals and provided nine assists in 55 appearances across all competitions.
The attacking midfielder has played six times for Liverpool this season and has registered only one assist, although his 12 chances created rank third among the club’s players.
His struggles have led to speculation that Bayern could consider bringing him back to Germany. But Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, a member of Bayern Munich’s supervisory board, believes Vincent Kompany already has enough options in Wirtz’s position.
“First of all, that’s not my job,” Rummenigge told AZ when asked whether Bayern could make a move for Wirtz.
“You mustn’t forget that Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry play in that position, and there are other options such as Ismael Saibari.
“There’s no need to buy a fourth player for the amount of money Wirtz would probably cost. Whether something else could still be possible at some point? I don’t know.”
Rummenigge also said he could not assess whether Wirtz was content at Liverpool, while recalling the discussions he and Uli Hoeness previously had with the player’s parents.
“The question is whether Wirtz is happy at Liverpool. I can’t judge that,” he said.
“Uli [Hoeness] and I were in contact with his father and mother for a while. Then they made a different decision, and we respected that.”
Rummenigge admitted that Wirtz’s problems in the Premier League had surprised him.
“Honestly: yes,” he said when asked whether he had expected the player to struggle.
He added that Bayern had understood Wirtz chose Liverpool partly because Arne Slot, who was manager at the time, had offered him the number 10 role he had occupied at Leverkusen.
“We were given the impression that he was going to Liverpool because the manager at the time, Arne Slot, had promised him the number 10 position, which he had also played at Leverkusen,” Rummenigge said.
“That was an important factor in his decision to choose Liverpool. Financially, there were no dramatic differences. He made his decision, and we accepted it.”
Rummenigge said the situation underlined the importance of players carefully considering any major career move.
“That’s why I say that every step a player takes is something he has to think through carefully beforehand.”
Wirtz is currently with Germany on international duty. Germany have taken four points from their opening two Nations League matches under Jurgen Klopp and face Serbia on Thursday.
