If there was any doubt that Bayern Munich was going to make a hard-charge at procuring Bayer Leverkusen ace and German national team star Florian Wirtz in 2025, Bild (via @iMiaSanMia) would like to try and change that perception.
Bild journalists Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl issued an extensive report on how Bayern Munich plans to get Wirtz and how it might work for him in Bavaria:
Internally, it’s already been decided. Florian Wirtz is Bayern’s #1 transfer target for next summer. Within the club, Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are exuding confidence that Wirtz would decide to join Bayern. The reason for Bayern’s confidence is that the player’s camp has signalled during the talks that Bayern have ‘serious chances’ of being Wirtz’s choice. The fact that Jamal Musiala is leaning towards extending his contract at Bayern is another argument for Wirtz.
That is not good news for Bayer Leverkusen, who would love to either retain Wirtz or let him go abroad for a hefty fee. Unfortunately for Die Werkself, Bayern Munich’s longtime relationship with Wirtz might be too much to overcome:
In case of a departure, Bayer Leverkusen would prefer to see Wirtz move abroad. Real Madrid are considered favourites, especially if Xabi Alonso replaces Carlo Ancelotti next summer.
Nevertheless, one thing could play in Bayern’s favor over Madrid – the work that the club has been doing behind the scenes to prepare the signing. Bayern have been working intensively on the Wirtz signing for 8 years, since he was a 13-year old youth player at Köln. Bayern stayed in contact, continued to send scouts to watch him and met with the Wirtz family. However, the move didn’t materialize because the family wanted the player to stay and develop in his environment and finish school at home, hence the move from Köln to Bayer Leverkusen in 2020.
One year later, Bayern invited Florian and his father/agent to Munich and expressed their interest again through an intermediary. Afterwards, Uli Hoeneß invited Wirtz’s father to his house in Tegernsee.
After Wirtz’s ACL injury in 2022, Marco Neppe called Wirtz’s father and told him that Bayern are still very interested. Hasan Salihamidžić tried to convince Uli Hoeneß of signing Wirtz while he was injured as he would cost less money, but Hoeneß hesitated, especially after the Lucas Hernandez experience.
All of those lost opportunities, however, have led to now with Bayern Munich being poised and ready to do whatever it takes to bring in Wirtz:
Now Bayern have made contact with the Wirtz family once again. Eberl and Freund are pushing. The club is aware they would have to break their transfer record to sign Wirtz. Nevertheless, with the current financial situation of the club and the record numbers that will be announced at the next AGM, Bayern are well capable of affording a transfer that costs well over €100m. In addition, the supervisory board expects Eberl and Freund to raise further funds through player sales (Coman, Goretzka, Gnabry).
There will be skepticism surrounding the report, but it does appear as if Bayern Munich is lasered in on its big target for the summer of 2025…and it would be an absolute game-changer.
Looking for some instant reactions from Germany’s shocking 1-1 draw with Hungary? Great, then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
