Bayern Munich advantage: Florian Wirtz exit to Liverpool could signal new era of dominance for Vincent Kompany’s side
Bayern Munich look set to miss out on Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz to Liverpool, but the club could still dominate the Bundesliga for years to come.
Bayern Munich are well placed to win the Bundesliga title next season despite having seemingly lost out to Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz.
The Bavarians were seen as the favourites to sign the 22-year-old playmaker having held long-term interest in the German, but the English champions are reportedly getting closer to securing his services.
Many Bayern fans have criticised the club’s hierarchy for failing to land the attacker, but though supporters will be disappointed, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic for next season.
Boss Vincent Kompany guided his side to the Bundesliga crown in 2024-25, reclaiming the title after losing out to Leverkusen in 2023-24.
While winning league titles should never be taken for granted, the exit of Wirtz would significantly weaken one of Bayern’s potential challengers ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The team’s Bundesliga triumph was the club’s 12th in 13 seasons, and here Sports Mole examines why the Bavarians could be set for another era of dominance.
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Leverkusen weakened
The absence of Wirtz will leave Leverkusen needing to replace arguably their best player, with the attacker having netted 10 goals and provided 12 assists in the league in 2024-25, registering more direct goal involvements than any of his teammates.
Die Schwarzroten have also lost dynamic wing-back Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool, and his loss could be significant considering he was one of the team’s attacking sparks, providing energy down the right flank while also contributing directly in the creation of goals.
Perhaps more detrimental will be the loss of head coach Xabi Alonso, who has made the switch to Real Madrid after just over two seasons at the club.
Erik ten Hag has been appointed in Alonso’s place, but it remains to be seen if he can compete against Bayern given he struggled in the league with Manchester United.
It should be noted that Ten Hag did win the EFL Cup and FA Cup during his time in England, and his track record in knockout competitions suggests he could help Leverkusen compete for the DFB-Pokal.
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The chasing pack
Borussia Dortmund could have won the league title in 2022-23 but they were held to a 2-2 stalemate in their final game of the season by Mainz 05 when a victory would have secured a first-placed finish.
In the two seasons since, BVB finished fifth and fourth but their tally of 57 points in 2024-25 was six worse than they totalled in 2023-24, and it is difficult to see how they can close the gap to Bayern given the flaws within their squad.
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig have routinely posed challenges to Bayern, but Die Rotten Bullen finished seventh and failed to qualify for Europe, and the club may be forced into selling stars such as Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko.
Eintracht Frankfurt ended their 2024-25 campaign in third place but they were weakened in January by the exit of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City.
With striker Hugo Ekitike also strongly linked with a move away to the likes of Chelsea, it would not be surprising if they struggled to keep pace with Bayern next term.
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Could Bayern be their own worst enemy?
Kompany’s side’s points total of 82 was 13 more than Leverkusen managed to accumulate over the course of the season, and should they make additions to reinforce their attack following their failure to land Wirtz, then that gap could grow.
However, striker Harry Kane will be 32 in July and his performance levels could decline as he ages, so securing another number nine should be seen as a matter of priority over the next year.
The club have also experienced issues in their backline, with central defenders Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano facing criticism for their displays in 2024-25.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is 39 and will soon need to be replaced, while midfielder Joshua Kimmich is 30 and could need help in the middle of the pitch to perform to his best.
If Bayern address some of the glaring issues within their squad, then there is no reason to think that they cannot dominate in the Bundesliga for years to come.
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