The post-transfer window period generally creates a void into which the world’s more speculative media outlets pour a slew of wild and frequently fictional rumours – and one of the most eyebrow-raising stories to have emerged since deadline day involves Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and a swap deal which sounds deeply implausible at first blush.
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A handful of gossip columnists – among them TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey – have reported that Bayern are preparing to make a bid for Florian Wirtz should he fail to find the form that marked him out for stardom at Bayer Leverkusen. In return, it’s alleged, Bayern could sell Michael Olise to Liverpool. It’s a wild story, but one that’s doing the rounds nonetheless. So is there any chance that it could be true?
The stories which suggest Liverpool & Bayern Munich could be set for a sensational swap
Florian Wirtz was close to joining Bayern Munich in 2025placeholder image
Florian Wirtz was close to joining Bayern Munich in 2025 | Getty Images
TEAMtalk’s story seems to have been the first, copied and pasted later by other gossip outlets to fill column inches – they claimed that unspecified sources had told them that Wirtz remained a player of interest to Bayern Munich, over a year after they unsuccessfully tried to sign him from Leverkusen.
Wirtz went to Liverpool instead in a deal worth up to £116m, but has struggled to find his feet at Anfield, scoring a meagre seven goals in 54 appearances for the club to date. Bayern, it was suggested, could be ready to pounce if he failed to pick up the pace.
The story about Wirtz’s future was then dovetailed with speculation surrounding Michael Olise. The French forward has established himself as a global star since leaving Crystal Palace and was heavily linked with a move to either Liverpool or Real Madrid at the start of the summer. Bayern had no interest in selling, but some stories in the German media have suggested that the 24-year-could force the issue in the near future.
Olise will be entering the final two years of his contract at the Allianz Arena next summer, the point at which clubs are often compelled to sell if they want to extract maximum value from their player. There have been no indications that Olise will sign a new deal.
There’s an extent to which the story makes sense, then. Bayern are admirers of Wirtz are tried extremely hard to sign him a year or so ago – and with concerns growing over the form of Jamal Musiala, they may end up with reason to want to invest in a new number 10. Liverpool, meanwhile, could grow tired of waiting for Wirtz to get back to his best and decide to cut bait, while Olise could easily end up as a target for them if there are clear indications that he wants to leave Bavaria.
There’s logic behind the seemingly wild rumour, then. But is it likely to prove true by the time we get to next summer’s transfer window?
Is there any truth in the seemingly wild story?
Michael Olise has blossomed at Bayern Munich - but may have ambitions to move on before longplaceholder image
Michael Olise has blossomed at Bayern Munich - but may have ambitions to move on before long | Getty Images
While one can construct a chain of events which might lead to Wirtz leaving to join Bayern while Olise signs for Liverpool, it remains far more likely that both players involved in the rumour stay put – and there are no signs which suggest that either player is going to be available for sale in the foreseeable future.
Sources suggest that Liverpool remain patient and optimistic with Wirtz, although that may not be the case if he’s still underperforming by the end of the 2026/27 season. Selling him would be an emergency back-up plan at best - while Bayern are very unlikely to sell Olise next summer unless they felt absolutely compelled to.
They are still holding out hope that the Frenchman will sign a new contract, but even if Olise did decide to force the issue it’s more likely that he would be pushing for a move to Real Madrid instead of Anfield. The Spanish side are believed to be Olise’s dream destination, and if they maintain their undoubted interest into next year, then the Santiago Bernabeu would be where Olise was pushing to go.
Bayern Munich reported Christian Falk also recently reported that the German giants were “not tracking” Wirtz and have no plans to make a move for a player whose transfer value proved to be too high for them a year ago – Bayern generally avoid making huge moves and have never spent more than £80m on a player, the sum they shelled out to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur.
All told, then, it’s extremely unlikely that this is a trade which takes place in the foreseeable future. The chances are that Wirtz is still at Anfield and Olise either in Munich or Madrid in 12 months’ time – and the number of stars which would have to align for this wild transfer rumour to come true is surely too many. Liverpool haven’t been shy of spending in recent years, but this is a deal that their supporters shouldn’t hold their breath over.