Bayern Munich are CELEBRATING after missing out on £116m Florian Wirtz deal

Liverpool scored a significant transfer win over Bayern Munich and indeed Manchester City last summer.

Owing to a pretty convincing plan for the Germany playmaker, Wirtz chose Anfield ahead of rival offers from Bayern and Pep Guardiola’s City.

The Reds’ sporting director Richard Hughes paid a fee that could reach £116m for the 22-year-old - a star of Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten league and cup double in 2024.

Wirtz secured a five-year deal on Merseyside - with it expected that Arne Slot would build the attack around his talents.

Bayern now delighted to miss out on Wirtz

Bayern were FURIOUS at the time - as it was believed a move to the Allianz Arena was a slam dunk. But for once, FC Hollywood were beaten to the transfer punch for a key Bundesliga talent.

It’s fair to say Liverpool fans are still waiting to see the best from Wirtz - who remains without a goal or an assist in the Premier League for the top-flight champions.

In fact, the Reds have lost their last four games running - with Wirtz simply unable to gain a foothold. In contrast, Bayern are now CELEBRATING their transfer miss of Wirtz while Liverpool wait for him to catch form.

Lennart Karl makes the step up

And why?

Because in the time since Wirtz turned down a move to Bayern, a new fledgling superstar has begun to emerge.

Lennart Karl, 17, is a diminutive attacking midfielder who made the step up to Vincent Kompany’s senior ranks for the FIFA Club World Cup. He is now taking German football by storm.

The left-footer has scored two sensational goals in two games running - against Club Brugge in the Champions League and at the weekend against Borussia Monchengladbach in the league.

Lennart Karl is German football's breakout star

Bavarian-born Karl joined the Bayern youth ranks back in 2022 and it’s fair to say if Wirtz had signed he would not have found first-team football as easy to come by this term.

Fans are raving about their homegrown talent - who is destined to sign a new contract in Bavaria soon - and are blown away by his dribbling and directness.

Not only did Bayern give space for Karl to flourish but they saved a fortune on a transfer fee. Wirtz moved for an initial £100m - with £16m more owed in add-ons - whereas Bayern promoted Karl for free.

In turn that money was turned on other game-changers like Luis Diaz - who they signed from Liverpool.

At a stroke Bayern have made their summer transfer window failure look like a resounding success - and it’s Liverpool left searching for Wirtz’s best form.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 Liverpool have a NEW right-back and he's the best in the world

👉🏻 Marc Guehi is COMING: Liverpool will agree deal to sign England star

👉🏻 Liverpool legend's son is now an elite centre-back