Bayern Munich have seemingly made their position on a potential move for Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz clear, although a fresh transfer scenario could leave the door open for a future approach.
Florian Wirtz only joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in 2025 in a deal which could eventually be worth £116 million, but his name has already returned to the German transfer headlines.
The 23-year-old has found himself under increased scrutiny during his time at Anfield, with questions being raised over his adaptation to the Premier League and whether he can reach the levels he produced in the Bundesliga.
That has inevitably led to speculation over whether Wirtz could one day seek a move away from Anfield, with Bayern Munich frequently mentioned due to their long-standing interest in the German international.
Bayern Munich stance on Florian Wirtz emerges
Reports linking Florian Wirtz with a surprise move away from Liverpool have continued to gather momentum in recent days, but fresh comments from Christian Falk suggest Bayern Munich are not currently pursuing the Reds midfielder.
"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.
"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, you can see where some reports have taken these conditions and claimed that one plus one equals two. 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."
Michael Olise transfer scenario could change Bayern's plans
Although Falk was keen to dismiss suggestions of an imminent move for Wirtz, he did leave the door open to the possibility of Bayern revisiting their interest under the right circumstances.
With Michael Olise attracting admiration across Europe and Bayern always likely to monitor elite German talent, the journalist suggested future market developments could alter the club's thinking.
"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. 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."
Author's Verdict
I wouldn't be letting Wirtz go any time soon.
The appeal of a player like Michael Olise is obvious. Liverpool have looked vulnerable through the middle at times this season and a return to a more traditional three-man midfield could help solve some of those issues. Olise is also one of the most gifted right-sided attackers in Europe and would undoubtedly add quality to the squad.
That said, swapping Wirtz for Olise simply doesn't make sense right now.
Wirtz remains one of the most talented young attacking midfielders in world football and there have been signs in recent weeks that things are finally starting to click for him under Andoni Iraola. Liverpool invested a record fee in the German for a reason, and it feels far too early to consider moving him on just as he appears to be settling into both the system and the demands of English football.
There's also the question of whether Olise is actually the right fit for Liverpool. His footballing talent is undeniable and he looks on the verge of becoming a genuinely world-class player. However, Liverpool have long placed huge importance on dressing-room culture and personality when recruiting players.
Judging purely from some of his interviews and public appearances, Olise doesn't immediately strike me as the type of character Liverpool have traditionally prioritised. That might be unfair and only those inside the game truly know what he's like behind the scenes, but the club's recruitment has usually focused on more than talent alone.
