Should Bayern Munich break the bank for Florian Wirtz or focus on other priorities?
Bayern Munich have a realistic chance of signing Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz next summer. The club has been flirting with the idea of making a move for the German attacking midfielder since his academy days at FC Köln.
The club's bosses have reportedly kept a close relationship with his parents for a long time, which could especially be crucial in agreeing personal terms with the player when financially stronger clubs like Manchester City and Real Madrid are also in the hunt. Wirtz is under contract with Leverkusen until 2027 — this means it would take a hefty fee, possibly even more than €100 million, to land the player’s signature.
Will Bayern be making the right decision in splashing out a record transfer fee on Wirtz when they already have other positions to prioritize? Let’s take a look at some of the potential downsides and upsides of FC Bayern bringing in Florian Wirtz:
CONS:
Lack of runners in the attack
A lack of fast off-the-ball runners can be seen in the present Bayern attack and it shall only become even more prominent with Wirtz’s inclusion. Pacy attacking players like Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, and Kingsley Coman are all getting on in years and one or two of them may even end up leaving the club next summer. While the possible attacking quartet of Wirtz-Musiala-OIise-Kane will still be incredibly formidable, it will struggle to offer threatening off-the-ball runs, whether it is during counters or settled play. Such an offensive unit runs the risk of becoming predictable with their passing patterns and not posing a lot of direct threat.
When it comes to facing low blocks, with the quality present in their squad, Bayern will still find effective ways to get the job done. But in the more open games, where there's lots of space to be exploited behind the defense, which player is best equipped to take advantage of it? Attackers like Raphinha, Marmoush, Leao, Openda, and Rashford fit into the winger profile that would excel in these scenarios. Adding such a player in their ranks would be hugely beneficial for Bayern, but would they be willing to spend on another attacker after splurging on Wirtz?
Less funds for other important signings
The runner profile in the attack is not the only position/role that this Bayern team is screaming out for. They also need at least one more central defender and one midfielder in the likely case of Leon Goretzka’s departure.
As we have seen this season, the burden of defensive responsibility on Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae's shoulders is colossal. Third-choice center-back Eric Dier is not well-suited for Kompany’s style of offensive football and reports suggest that the Englishman is very likely to part ways with the club next summer. Hiroki Ito is another center-back candidate but is yet to show his quality for Bayern as he has been out injured since the start of the campaign, which makes the signing of a reliable high-quality center-back an utmost priority for FC Bayern.
Wirtz’s transfer could have a direct effect on the club’s budget allocation for the signing of a center-back. Bayern may compromise for a cheap option or not sign a defender at all. With the concerningly high amount of games and the physical demands asked of a defender in Kompany's aggressive high-line system, reinforcement in the defensive department is highly needed.
With Goretzka also likely to depart in the summer of 2025, it will behoove Bayern to sign another midfielder to fill his place. Will these priority signings be addressed when more than €100 million from the transfer budget is to be spent on the signing of Florian Wirtz?
What about Paul Wanner ?
Bayern bosses have explicitly stated their intentions to bring back Paul Wanner (currently on loan at FC Heidenheim) and integrate him into the first team. With Musiala and Wirtz already in their ranks, the attacking midfielder will have a tough time getting minutes on the field. Wanner has been excellent for Heidenheim so far this season and he would want to play consistently to further his development. Bayern higher-ups need to decide if it will be a wise decision for them to sell their talented academy player for Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz.