Profile: Who is Bayern Munich wonderkid, Paul Wanner?
Who is Bayern Munich's attacking midfield wonderkid, Paul Wanner? We analyse his profile, style of play, and what his future entails.
Age: 18 years old (23 December 2005)
Position: Attacking midfield
Club: Bayern Munich (on loan at FC Heidenheim)
Nationality: Austria
Bayern Munich were tipped to sign Florian Wirtz in the 2024 summer transfer, but move never materialised, with Xabi Alonso stating how important Wirtz is to Bayer Leverkusen's title defence.
But FC Bayern may have their very own Florian Wirtz waiting in the wings.
Paul Wanner is an exciting, technically-gifted, left-footed, attacking midfielder – sound familiar?
Wanner is a traditional No. 10, and watching him you can't help but draw the comparisons with Florian Wirtz – the way he slaloms through defences, and his willingness to float across the front line, demanding the ball.
Comparisons with Wirtz don't stop there.
His height and physique are reminiscent of a young 18-year-old Florian Wirtz when he was first breaking into the Leverkusen first team back in 2020.
Wirtz struggled physically when he was first introduced to senior football, partly driven by his cruciate ligament injury, and lack of upper-body strength.
Wanner, whilst a delightful footballer, is similarly lacking in physicality that could aid his game.
This will of course come with age, but with Bundesliga defenders being notoriously physical, to survive and thrive in Germany, the 18-year-old Austrian international
After a largely successful loan spell with 2. Bundesliga side SV Elversberg last season, Paul Wanner will get his first taste of top-flight football with FC Heidenheim in 2024/25.
Despite being only 18 years old, Wanner is going to demonstrate his ability this season in order to convince the Bayern hierarchy that he is worthy of a position in the squad for the 2025/26 season.
Bayern have publicly explored deals for both Xavi Simons and Florian Wirtz, with the latter expected to leave Bayer Leverkusen next season.
Should the Bavarian club decide to move for their primary targets next summer, Wanner's development could be in jeopardy.
Whilst FC Heidenheim will not be a dominant force in the Bundesliga this season, Paul Wanner is certainly one to watch.
The young Austrian international is expected to flourish in a side where his is expected to be the chief creator, and has already been handed set-pieces and penalties.
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