Game over for Florian Wirtz as Liverpool want deal for France playmaker

Liverpool paid a fee that could reach £116m for Florian Wirtz back in 2025.

The Reds – under former head coach Arne Slot and ex-sporting director Richard Hughes – convinced the Germany playmaker to make the move to Anfield.

Manchester City and Real Madrid were also interested in the former Bayer Leverkusen double winner – but a position in the centre of a new-look attack under Slot was enough to sway the elegant dribbler.

Bayern licking their lips over Wirtz deal

Things haven’t gone to plan for Wirtz however with scrutiny over the consistency of his performances now stretching into a second season.

Speculation is mounting in Germany meanwhile that Liverpool could opt to cut Wirtz loose at the end of the current campaign and allow him to join Bayern Munich.

“Summer 2027 could be ‘the right time’ for Wirtz to depart Anfield if his ‘expected performance breakthrough doesn’t materialise’,” a report reads in TEAMtalk citing Bild.

Bayern would of course welcome the national team star with open arms and any potential deal would leave Liverpool in need of a replacement.

Liverpool want Cherki

Before Wirtz’s transfer was confirmed Slot jetted out to France in order to hold talks with Rayan Cherki.

The Dutchman confirmed to the ex-Lyon sensation that the then-Premier League champions would be going for Wirtz – ending their chase for the ambidextrous Frenchman.

Cherki went on to complete a bargain deal to join Manchester City – where the 23-year-old has comfortably outshone Wirtz in the intervening timeframe.

City await punishment

But with City facing sanctions from the Premier League we could see deals concluded for some of their star players. And according to the TEAMtalk report pressure is expected to be ramped up on Wirtz due to Liverpool’s interest in Cherki.

“Liverpool maintaining their interest in Man City magician Rayan Cherki could put more pressure on Wirtz,” the report reads.

Next summer could be pivotal therefore for Liverpool’s No10 position. We could see Wirtz jettisoned to Bayern Munich – presumably for less than the Anfield side paid for him – while a move for Cherki could well be chased.

It may be time to admit defeat over the Wirtz deal – seen at the time as a masterstoke by Richard Hughes. And with City’s fate hanging in the balance it could soon come time to welcome Cherki to the club.