Liverpool won the battle to sign Florian Wirtz in the summer transfer window, after over a year of transfer efforts. Multiple clubs wanted to take the 22-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen, and the German media hyped him up to be a world star.
For a long time, it was Bayern Munich which seemed like the obvious destination. The German giants wanted the youngster, and repeatedly leaked to the media their confidence a deal would be done.
Towards the end of the transfer saga it became apparent that Wirtz and those around him had Premier League temptations. Manchester City were keen, before after a private jet trip to Blackpool meant it was Liverpool who clinched the deal.
So far that transfer hasn’t worked out as hoped. Wirtz hasn’t faced the same level of pressure as some before him, but the German media have defended him strongly. That’s even seen a whole load of blame sent towards Mohamed Salah.
Meanwhile, Bild have published an article today saying it’s a ‘stroke of luck’ that Bayern lost out to Liverpool. Uli Hoeneß had been determined to get Wirtz for Bayern, and even his shirt number was talked about.
Super-Karl benefits from Wirtz to Liverpool
Lennart Karl
29.10.25, Köln, DFB Pokal, 1.FC Köln – FC Bayern München, Lennart Karl (#42 – FC Bayern München) vor dem Spiel mit Mütze
Bild go on to say: ‘The club saved well over €200m on the Wirtz package and finally helped another huge talent from its own youth academy break through. Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl, who has played in 14 of 18 games this season.”
The 17-year-old is dubbed ‘Super-Karl’ and has three goals and two assists so far this season.
Bayern Munich are thrilled with the youngster and there’s a belief he wouldn’t have come through like this had Wirtz been there.