Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß used a public appearance to level a blistering critique at Liverpool’s summer transfer activity and the way Florian Wirtz has been deployed since his arrival. Hoeneß highlighted the scale of Liverpool’s spending, noting the club spent almost £450 million ($595.1 million) over the summer while, he said, Bayern had spent around £370 million over the past three years combined.

Hoeneß spoke in front of 10,000 spectators at a business event in Munich’s Olympic Hall, comments that were covered by BILD. “They spent €500 million and are having a disastrous season,” he cackled. “In my opinion, that’s because they only have superstars. They only have chiefs and no Indians—I shouldn’t even say that, they’re indigenous people.”

He added sharper criticism aimed at Liverpool’s handling of Wirtz, who moved to Liverpool in what the draft describes as a club-record £116 million deal after Liverpool beat Bayern to his signature. Hoeneß argued the move has not worked out for the German playmaker and singled out managerial promises. “Obviously, manager Slot promised him something he’s not keeping,” he huffed. “He clearly promised him he’d get the No. 10 jersey. He was very particular about that. And he also promised he’d build a new team around him. Nonsense! The fact is, he’s now playing with No. 7, and his new team is playing everything but around Florian Wirtz. And with as many defeats as Liverpool have suffered, the season is practically over.”

Hoeneß also observed squad dynamics: “I always say: In Liverpool, they’ll soon have to play with five balls because the stars won’t give up any of them. Poor Florian Wirtz, he doesn’t even get a ball because [Mohamed] Salah and [Dominik] Szoboszlai and all the others want to play with their own,” Hoeneß hissed.

Those comments came hours after Wirtz produced one of his strongest performances for Liverpool in the 2–0 victory over West Ham United that ended a run of nine defeats in 12 games. Slot surmised it was “a good game” for the returning schemer. “We tried to create an extra midfielder and he was very important for us to find every time the extra midfielder,” Slot explained. Wirtz created one chance — Alexander Isak blazed it high over the bar — and his movement opened space for Cody Gakpo to tee up Isak for the opening goal.

Ibrahima Konaté has seen his reputation suffer markedly over the past year. Once the subject of strong interest from Real Madrid, who were reportedly set to replicate the Trent Alexander-Arnold trick by signing the Liverpool defender on a free transfer next summer when his contract expires, Madrid have now pulled out of the race.

The 26-year-old’s recent form has been described as largely dismal, with only a smattering of competent displays. Amid Liverpool’s ongoing disaster this season, he has been identified among those most culpable. Transfer talk appears to have distracted him and his future at Anfield is uncertain.

Two destinations emerge as the most likely options given the facts publicly reported.

Bayern Munich remain a plausible suitor. The Bundesliga champions have already taken Luis Díaz from Liverpool and that summer signing has settled in well in Bavaria. Bayern were tentatively linked with Konaté while Real Madrid showed interest. The attraction of acquiring a centre back approaching his peak years on a free transfer would be obvious. Whether Bayern need another central defender is debatable. Their current options include Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, Jonathan Tah and Kim Min-jae, while Josip Stanišić can operate in the position. Upamecano has been linked with a Bayern exit amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid, a development that could intensify Bayern’s focus on Konaté if the French centre back departs.

A return to France also makes sense. Paris-born Konaté has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, the club that would be unlikely to struggle with any salary demands. He spent time in his youth with Paris FC and brings Champions League, Premier League and major international experience. PSG are well stocked at centre back after signing Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth for just under £55 million ($72.8 million) last summer alongside Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Lucas Hernández and Lucas Beraldo. Whether Luis Enrique’s squad needs another centre back is uncertain, but PSG appear the most probable suitor if Konaté leaves Liverpool.

For now Konaté remains under contract and the coming months will determine whether either Bayern or PSG move to capitalize on a situation that began with Real Madrid’s withdrawal.

Harry Kane insisted he was “looking forward” to another meeting with Arsenal in the Champions League after Bayern Munich were beaten 3–1 at the Emirates Stadium in midweek. The England captain, the all-time top scorer in north London derby history, had arrived intent on adding to his 15-goal tally against Arsenal but finished the match without a single attempt.

It was the first time in 22 appearances against Arsenal that Kane has ended an outing without an attempt on goal. Not since October 2023 has the 32-year-old gone through an entire Champions League match without shooting. His match return read: 90 minutes, 0 goals, 0 shots, 0 shots on target, 0 chances created, 1 touch in the attacking penalty box and 3 touches in the defensive penalty box. Stats via FBref.

Bayern as a team mustered only eight attempts while Arsenal threatened mostly from set pieces. Lennart Karl produced a crisp first-half equaliser and David Raya made just a single save across the 90 minutes.

On the result and his own display, Kane was measured. “I’m sure we’ll see them again in the later stages of the Champions League and we look forward to that one,” he told TNT Sports. “A good battle,” Bayern’s talisman reflected. “I thought the first half was fairly even, a draw was probably a fair result.

“And then second half, we just didn’t quite have the same intensity and energy. We lost too many duels and in the end Arsenal punished us for that.”

Kane had warned of Arsenal’s set-piece threat before the match. “They have got good structure, they win first and second balls and then obviously set pieces, we knew they were going to be dangerous,” he sighed. “They are a good team, there is a reason why they have won every game in the Champions League and why they are top of the Premier League.”

There was a pricklier tone from some Bayern voices after the defeat, and Vincent Kompany said: “I don’t think any of us want to be the best team in November.” Declan Rice urged perspective for Arsenal, warning his teammates not to “get carried away”. “There is a long way to go,” Rice pointed out. “Look at Bayern Munich this season, they have been the best team in Europe,” he gushed. “This was probably the toughest game tactically we have played this season. The way they work it is so, so good.”