To some, including the author of this article, Paul Wanner’s rise seemed inevitable. Rising steadily up the ranks of the Bayern Munich youth team over the years, the player’s finesse on the ball and incredible decision-making in the final third made him one to watch. His unpredictable movement, unrivalled ability to find spaces, and tall, rangy physique have drawn comparisons to Thomas Müller, Bayern’s footballing legend.
Paul Wanner is as close as it gets to a Müller regen. In fact, they’re the exact same height.
The 18-year-old phenom has notched two goals and an assist in just 2 Bundesliga appearances for Heidenheim and has led the charge to put his club at the top of the league standings. He plays with so much ease and freedom and seems destined to eventually take the #10 spot from Müller. That is, of course, if the Bayern brass realize that Jamal Musiala’s talents remain best used out wide.
According to a report from Kerry Hau (@kerry_hau) as captured by @iMiaSanMia, Julian Nagelsmann and the German national team are taking notes, and it is likely that he gets called up soon.
Julian Nagelsmann is very satisfied with Paul Wanner’s development so far in Heidenheim. A national team call-up is conceivable should Wanner continue to perform this way. The 18-year wants to fully focus on Heidenheim for now and then at some point make a decision with his heart… pic.twitter.com/5TgQxwbIbD
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) September 4, 2024
They should expect some resistance from the Austrian national team, also keen on calling him up. However, with the player having rejected inquiries from them in the past, it seems more likely that Germany would be his choice.
If this transpires, we could expect to see a creative trio of Musiala-Wanner-Wirtz with a striker up front, which sounds tantalizing, to say the least. Even a tree should be able to score goals being at the receiving end of those passes. From Bayern fans’ perspective, this could pave the way for an excellent partnership with Musiala and Pavlovic.
Looking to catch-up on Bayern Munich’s weekend, plus a breakdown of how each Bundesliga match played out? Great, then check out the latest episode of Bavarian Podcast Works — The Bundesliga Rundown with Marcus Iredahl. You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
