Liverpool remain locked in negotiations over a club-record deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz having seen a £109m offer turned down by the Bundesliga side
Florian Wirtz looks on during the 1.Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany on May 11, 2025.
(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Former Bayern Munich defender Thomas Helmer believes Florian Wirtz will be a natural fit for the Liverpool squad as he lamented his former club's inability to bring the Bayer Leverkusen star to Bavaria.
Bundesliga champions Bayern had been one of three clubs, alongside the Reds and Manchester City, interested in signing the Germany international this summer before Wirtz and his entourage informed officials in Munich last month that he saw his future at Anfield.
Since then Liverpool have been in discussions with Leverkusen over a deal that will smash the club's transfer record and negotiations remain ongoing after Bayer turned down an offer worth £109m that was tabled on Friday.
READ MORE: Florian Wirtz transfer latest as Liverpool next move clear after record offer rejected
Helmer, who won three Bundesliga titles with Bayern in the 1990s, thinks Wirtz's potential move to Liverpool reflects poorly on the strength of German football, but he tipped the 22-year-old to be a success in Arne Slot's squad as they go about defending their Premier League title.
"If Florian Wirtz goes to the Premier League, it would be very bad for the Bundesliga," Helmer told Casino Beats. "For me, Wirtz is one of the best attacking players at the moment.
"He’s almost more valuable for the German national team than Jamal Musiala, although both are top players and of course they are both still young.
“That's why it'd be very, very sad for the Bundesliga and for Bayern Munich. Many people in Germany were hoping he’d transfer to Bayern, so him and Musiala could get settled in the same side before the World Cup next year.
"I also thought this would be a good idea, but I think Liverpool are already gunning for him, too – he would be great for Liverpool. They already have top players, and from what I've seen of them, I believe he will fit in well.”
Helmer added: “I’ve talked a lot about this with (former Bayern striker) Mario Basler, as we do a roadshow together. When we looked back on Wirtz and Musiala’s games for the national team, one was really good and the other wasn't so good.
"Was it because the other was there? Was it because either of them didn't hit his stride that particular day?
“We don't know that exactly. They are similar in style and certainly from their position they play much the same game. So, at the very least, Bayern would have had to change their system to fit them both in.
"That said, with two talents like that, as a coach you should be able to make that work. That’s the difference between a good coach and a great one.”