Liverpool Pursue Bayern Prodigy Lennart Karl as Wirtz Struggles

When Jürgen Klopp first walked through the doors at Anfield, the assumption was simple: Liverpool would become a magnet for German talent. Timo Werner, Julian Brandt, Mario Götze – at various points, Klopp wanted them all.

Liverpool went another way. Werner became Diogo Jota. Brandt became Mo Salah. Not bad alternatives.

Even so, the Bundesliga remained a favourite hunting ground. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konaté arrived via Germany. So did Ryan Gravenberch, Joël Matip and Naby Keïta. But the most high-profile capture from German football came after Klopp’s reign in the Liverpool dugout had ended.

Florian Wirtz was supposed to be the crown jewel.

Wirtz stalls at Anfield

Liverpool’s victory in the race for Wirtz – beating Manchester City and Bayern Munich to his signature – felt like a statement. This was the kind of deal that was meant to reshape an attack for years.

It hasn’t looked like that on the pitch.

Wirtz has started the season in underwhelming fashion. He has struggled to find the right spaces, and when he does receive the ball, his influence has been minimal. The German playmaker has looked subdued, a long way from the electric presence that lit up Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool expected a lot more. Right now, they are not getting it.

The issue isn’t just Wirtz. The team around him has not been geared to maximise his strengths. At Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso built a system that revolved around him. Every movement, every rotation seemed designed to free Wirtz between the lines, to give him room to dictate.

At Anfield, that framework does not exist yet. It could, though. If Liverpool commit to building a structure that places Wirtz at its centre – as Alonso did – there is still every chance he can rediscover the form that made him one of Europe’s most coveted young players.

While they wrestle with that tactical question, Liverpool are already casting their eye back towards Germany.

Liverpool make move for Lennart Karl

According to Ekrem Konur, Liverpool have made informal contact over a move for Bayern Munich wonderkid Lennart Karl, a teenager already being talked about in superlatives inside German football.

Karl has been labelled the standout German talent of his generation. A natural No.10 who can also operate out wide, he brings sharp technical quality, creativity and end product – the kind of profile that top clubs now hoard, not just sign.

His rise has not gone unnoticed by Klopp in his new role as Germany head coach. Speaking in his second press conference with the national team, Klopp offered a striking endorsement of the 18-year-old.

"When I met Lennart for the first time and shook his hand, I immediately realised: this boy is ready. He's a real powerhouse and very confident, with very pleasant manners. He's also a bit 'cheeky/sassy', which I like. He had some outstanding moments before his injury. It was a really unfortunate time for him to get injured," Klopp said.

Those are not throwaway lines. Klopp has worked with some of the most gifted young attackers of the past decade. For him to talk about readiness, power and personality at 18 says plenty about how Karl is viewed inside the German setup.

The numbers back it up. Despite his age, Karl already has 19 goal contributions in 45 appearances for Bayern Munich’s first team. That level of productivity, at that club, at that age, explains why any move would be both complicated and headline-grabbing.

If Liverpool could somehow prise him away from Bavaria, it would be remarkable business – and a bold statement about where they want to take their next attacking rebuild.

One German playmaker still needs unlocking. Another might just be the next big swing.