Journalist: Wirtz Spotted Househunting as Liverpool Plot £126m Record Transfer
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz Gamble: Why Bayern Are Nervous—and What It Means for the Reds
The tug-of-war for Florian Wirtz is heating up, and it's not just another transfer rumour—it's a high-stakes chess match between two of Europe's biggest clubs. While Bayern Munich might feel they have the inside track, Liverpool are looming larger than ever in the rear-view mirror. German journalist Christian Falk has brought this latest twist to light, and it's one that should make fans on Merseyside sit up and pay attention.
Liverpool Make Bayern Sweat Over Wirtz
Bayern Munich were confident. The German champions had verbal assurances from Wirtz's camp. They believed the deal was theirs to lose, set for 2025 or 2026. But according to Falk, who spoke exclusively on CF Bayern Insider, Liverpool's interest has thrown a spanner in the works.
Advertisement
'Bayern Munich still believe they have the Wirtz family's word that he will join Bayern in 2025 or 2026,' Falk said. 'But now, there is a bit of fear inside the club around Liverpool.'
The Reds, under new manager Arne Slot, appear ready to do what Bayern won't: commit to the transfer fee. Bayer Leverkusen want €150m (£126.1m). Bayern are holding firm at €100m (£84.6m). That gap could be decisive, and Liverpool may just be willing to fill it.
Househunting on Merseyside?
In one of the more surprising elements of Falk's report, it was revealed that Wirtz has already begun househunting in Liverpool. That's a bold move if Bayern truly had everything sewn up.
Advertisement
'The family is playing this transfer game quite openly,' Falk said. 'They're telling Bayern what they're doing with Liverpool, and they're telling Liverpool what they're doing with Bayern Munich.'
This openness suggests Wirtz's camp is not as committed to Bayern as the German club hoped. It also gives Liverpool a genuine shot at snatching one of the Bundesliga's brightest stars.
Bayern Try to Regain Control at Tegernsee
Bayern aren't giving up. The next play in their strategy involves some old-school persuasion at Uli Hoeneß's residence in Tegernsee. It's a power move from the old guard, designed to lean on relationships and reputation.
Advertisement
'Here, they want to make a deal with the family. They're hoping to gain some ground with the father (and agent), Hans-Joachim,' Falk noted. 'His generation certainly admires Hoeneß, so this is a big chance for Bayern.'
But Liverpool aren't idle. Michael Edwards, back in the fold at FSG, is reportedly flying to Boston for crunch talks with key figures. If the Reds are willing to hit that €150m mark, it may be Bayern who find themselves outmanoeuvred.
Wirtz Impressed by Liverpool's Ambition
Money aside, there's a less tangible but equally crucial element at play: impression. Wirtz is said to have been wowed by what Liverpool had to offer.
Advertisement
'Wirtz was impressed with what he saw from Liverpool. It's a really big, professional club – another world when you're working in Leverkusen,' Falk said.
That contrast between Liverpool and Bayern is striking. 'Bayern Munich is more of a family club. It's one of the biggest clubs in the world, of course, but the training ground isn't quite as big as you'd expect!'
Those details matter to players. The professionalism, the infrastructure, the vibe—it all feeds into a young star's decision. And if Wirtz felt the scale and vision at Anfield, that could be a deciding factor.
Strategic Spending and a Big Summer Ahead
Liverpool have cash to spend, but they also have multiple positions to strengthen. The club is eyeing Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, likely to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, should he move on. They still need a centre-back and possibly a striker, given the underwhelming seasons of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.
Advertisement
So, while they could meet Wirtz's asking price, the question becomes one of priorities. Can they afford to splash £126m on one player and still complete their rebuild?
Regardless, the interest is real. The threat to Bayern is real. And Christian Falk's reporting makes one thing clear: this saga is far from over.
'They want to stop the efforts of Liverpool and complete the deal,' Falk said. That sentence alone signals how seriously Bayern are now taking the Reds.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report: Liverpool weigh £30m sale as Brentford and others show interest
Ben Doak and Liverpool's £30m Opportunity: Smart Business or Short-Sighted Sale? Transfer Turbulence Around Young Talent Liverpool's summer activity has been relentless, with deals flowing in and out of the club in rapid succession. The latest transfer spotlight, however, is fixed on 19-year-old Ben Doak, a name that barely registered with the casual fan last summer but now finds himself a £30m-rated target for a trio of Premier League clubs. Advertisement Per the Hounslow Herald, Brentford are keen to add Doak to a growing collection of ex-Liverpool talent, having already secured the signatures of Caoimhin Kelleher, Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho over the past two summers. But they're not alone. Crystal Palace and Brighton have reportedly entered the fray, a development that significantly strengthens Liverpool's hand. Sale May Fund Big-Name Targets Liverpool's motivation is clear. While they've already welcomed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and bid farewell to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kelleher, bigger targets are on the radar. Chief among them is Florian Wirtz. Liverpool to recoup funds to help fund Wirtz and more. With the club still engaged in talks over Milos Kerkez and potentially a striker, Doak's sale could serve a broader strategic purpose. His potential may be considerable, but in a summer of reshaping, even promising youth might be considered expendable to fund marquee arrivals. Market Value and Timing Work in Liverpool's Favour Doak's value, and the timing of this interest, place Liverpool in an advantageous position. Ipswich Town had tried in January, but the Reds didn't want to sell. The mood seems to have shifted, and rightly so. The competition between Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace all but guarantees a fee close to the full £30m. Photo IMAGO Given that Doak's 2024/25 campaign was hampered by injury after a strong loan stint at Middlesbrough, it's a bold valuation—but not unrealistic. There's enough performance data, promise and Premier League readiness to justify it, particularly in a summer when even mid-table clubs have serious money to spend. Development Versus Immediate Value Selling Doak would be another sign that Liverpool are prioritising short-term gains and proven quality over longer-term squad depth and player development. That may be a calculated risk worth taking, but it will only pay off if their reinvestments—particularly in the Wirtz deal—yield immediate returns. Advertisement It's a recurring theme under Fenway Sports Group: buy low, develop smart, and sell high. In this case, it might be more about selling smart and buying elite. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis There's no doubt Ben Doak has something about him. Pacey, direct, and fearless—he looks every inch a player suited to Arne Slot's dynamic football. His performances at Middlesbrough hinted at serious potential, and despite injury setbacks, most Liverpool fans would have liked to see him get a proper run in the first team before decisions are made. That said, £30m is no small change for a player who's still largely unproven at Premier League level. If that money helps secure someone like Florian Wirtz, a generational talent who could redefine Liverpool's attacking play, then it becomes more palatable. But it always stings to see homegrown or carefully scouted youth sold on just before they might explode. Advertisement Brentford, Brighton and Palace are all clubs with smart recruitment and solid coaching. If any of them land Doak, he'll probably thrive. The worry then is hindsight. If he becomes a star elsewhere, fans will question why we didn't show more patience. Still, given the bigger picture and financial pragmatism required to stay competitive in the modern game, this looks like a sale Liverpool can afford to make—but only if they get the rest of their summer business absolutely right.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tagger, McDonald win French Open junior titles
PARIS (AP) — Lilli Tagger of Austria has won the girls' title at the French Open without dropping a set in the tournament. Making her junior Roland-Garros debut this year, the 17-year-old Tagger beat eighth-seeded Hannah Klugman of Britain 6-2, 6-0 in the final on Saturday. Advertisement Tagger saved all five break points she faced and hit 19 winners. She is the first Austrian player to win a junior singles title at the French Open. Her previous best result at a major tournament was reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open this year. Niels McDonald won an all-German final against Max Schoenhaus 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-3. McDonald became the first German boys' Grand Slam singles champion since Alexander Zverev won the junior title at the Australian Open in 2014. ___ AP tennis: The Associated Press
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool to make offer for €60m centre-back within DAYS
Liverpool secured Virgil van Dijk to a contract renewal before the end of the season. With the Dutchman's previous terms expiring in summer 2025, sporting director Richard Hughes ensured continuity at centre-back by having Van Dijk commit until 2027. That gives the Reds a degree of security in making their defensive plans but all around Van Dijk there is uncertainty. We could see Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez LEAVE in this transfer window, reducing the number of available centre-backs by two. Advertisement Those sales would leave Liverpool with ONLY Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as options in the heart of defence. But the captain turns 34 this summer and won't be around forever, while the Merseysiders have also got a problem to solve with Konate. The Frenchman, 26, is out of contract next year and if no agreement is reached over a renewal then he too could be sold. In this context it is wise for Richard Hughes and Arne Slot to be looking at the market for new defenders. Diomande back on the radar Their search has now reportedly taken them back to Portugal, where Ousmane Diomande is once again in focus. Diomande, 21, has just won the Portuguese league and cup double with his side, earning the plaudits for another solid season's work. Advertisement The Ivory Coast international is now attracting transfer attention from the Premier League - with A Bola disclosing that Crystal Palace have got the former Midtjylland stopper on their list to replace Marc Guehi. 'The Premier League club sought to find out the amount to buy the central defender from Alvalade and received the answer immediately: the Lions will only sit at the negotiating table for amounts of around €60 million,' the report reads. But intriguingly it's added that several other Premier League clubs - Liverpool included - have also taken this 'first step' towards signing Diomande. Liverpool could make Diomande offer 'Crystal Palace, by the way, were not the only ones to take this first step towards Diomande,' the report continues. Advertisement 'Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as Bayern Munich (interest dating back to January) have not lost sight of the centre-back and could make an offer in the coming days.' Diomande is under contract until 2027 having joined Sporting from Danish side Midtjylland in 2023. He has played 101 times for Sporting, scoring six goals and adding two assists. On FOTMOB he ranks highly for recoveries and duels won - while his aerial duel percentage is solid at around 65 percent.