How Will Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz Signing Impact Paul Wanner?

Bayern Munich’s Paul Wanner is considered one of the biggest talents in German football. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

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As reported earlier this week, Bayern Munich has finally completed the signing of Colombian forward Luis Díaz in a deal worth €75 million ($88 million). The arrival of Bayern’s newest star forward, however, also raises questions over the future of star talent Paul Wanner.

Why did Bayern sign Díaz? “Luis creates a real goal threat and is a scorer, who at the same time works incredibly hard for his team,” Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund said in a club statement. “He’s quick, a versatile footballer, and brings an intense style of play to the game. He’s also gained a lot of experience at the top level with Liverpool and the Colombian national team. Luis Díaz represents a complete package that will thrill our fans.”

Díaz has signed a contract until the end of the 2028/29 season and will wear the no.14. The very same number that Bayern talent Wanner wore during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. Considered one of Germany’s biggest talents, the decision raised some questions on Wanner’s immediate future at the Rekordmeister.

The 19-year-old then went out on loan to SV Elversberg, where he scored six goals and provided two assists in 28 2. Bundesliga games. Then last season, Wanner made the next step in his development, scoring three goals and two assists in 29 Bundesliga games for Heidenheim.

Indeed, his time in Heidenheim started spectacularly with him leading the club to the top of the table. As it is often the case for smaller German clubs, Heidenheim struggled with the reality of balancing Bundesliga games with participating in European football.

By the time the club exited the UEFA Conference League in the intermediate stage against FC Copenhagen (1-3 AET), Heidenheim was deeply embroiled in the relegation battle. With the club fighting for survival, Wanner’s playing time dropped.

Still, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder would become crucial down the stretch. Heidenheim finished 16th in the Bundesliga and, as a result, faced Wanner’s former club Elversberg in the relegation playoffs.

The second leg was on a knife’s edge when, in the fifth minute of injury time, Wanner provided the assist to Leo Scienza’s game-winning goal (2-1). A crucial moment that also highlighted that Wanner could be relied on in big moments.

Then, following the Bundesliga season, Wanner opted to represent Germany at the U21 European Championships. As one of the younger players in the squad, Wanner played a limited role. Still, the attacking midfielder had his moments, providing an assist in Germany’s 3-0 win over France in the semifinal.

The plan was then for Wanner to go out on loan or be moved in a package for another attacking player. But with Bayern failing to sign Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen and Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart, Wanner could now play a crucial role for the Rekordmeister this upcoming season, especially after Jamal Musiala suffered a serious injury at the FIFA Club World Cup.

With Musiala out for the foreseeable future, Wirtz not coming, and Woltemade unlikely to arrive, Wanner could now be given a shot to make the first team at Bayern, even if Díaz now takes his number. “I don’t want to talk about what [director of sport] Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are planning, but after our regular meetings, Paul is on the list for the new season,” Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said to Ran Sport.

This makes sense, with Musiala out, Wanner is the only other player in Bayern’s squad who could naturally play the no.10 role. Furthermore, Wanner can also play on either wing or as a second striker, a role previously occupied by the now Vancouver Whitecaps-bound Thomas Müller.

In other words, it is now up to Wanner to make this squad, even if his no.14 is now gone. But that should be the most minor issue at this stage.