Liverpool star Florian Wirtz has struggled since his big-money switch from Bayer Leverkusen just over a year ago, with links already emerging over a potential exit
Florian Wirtz poses during the official UEFA Champions League 2026/27 portrait session
Florian Wirtz could leave Liverpool in the near future(Image: (Photo by Karl Bridgeman - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))
Florian Wirtz has been linked with a potential exit from Liverpool, just over one year on from his huge $157 million switch from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
The German playmaker was viewed as an option who could help take the team's attack to another level, having shown in the Bundesliga that he can create plenty for his teammates to work from, while he has the potential to grow further.
So far, however, the transition to the Premier League has been a tough one. The 23-year-old managed just seven goals and 10 assists across all competitions last season, as games appeared to pass him by more often than not.
There were promising signs, particularly around the New Year, when he went on a run of six goal involvements in eight appearances in the Premier League, but that fizzled out after a short injury layoff.
After taking that time to settle into the new league, there has been some hope that Wirtz can start to show more of the quality and presence that was expected when he joined.
However, so far, the midfielder has yet to score and has just one assist to his name in five games across all competitions, leading to questions about whether he will be able to make it with the Reds moving forward.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 09, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz has come in for criticism from some quarters(Image: Getty)
While there is still time for Wirtz to make himself a star at Anfield, teams appear to be looking at the possibility of a move already, should he leave the club.
TeamTalk reports that Bayern Munich is keeping a close eye on Wirtz's situation, with the long-standing interest from the Bavarian outfit remaining intact over a year on from trying to land him.
The report claims that Bayern continue to admire Wirtz, who is facing some internal questions from Liverpool chiefs about his ability to provide the quality needed, but a move will only come about if the Merseyside outfit considers an exit.
As it stands, the Reds are not pushing for an exit, with Andoni Iraola being given a chance to work with the German playmaker, but that is not to rule out a potential move in the next year.
It remains to be seen whether there could be a bigger push for a transfer by the time the summer 2027 transfer window rolls around, but for now, there is time for Wirtz to turn things around.
Iraola has certainly defended the star, recently saying: "He played very well against Atletico Madrid. He helped us a lot, also he was very good on the ball and overall I was very happy with his performance.
"The game against Ipswich in the second half he lost more balls than normal but overall I have been very happy with his performances. He is a good player out of possession who helps us in our press. But he runs the same as the ten of Arsenal, the 10 of (Manchester) City, the 10 of Fulham and more or less his stats are very similar to the number tens other teams have."
If Iraola can make things click, then Wirtz could explode and prove his worth. If not, then questions will continue surrounding the star and his ability to provide the spark that Liverpool needs.