Bayern Munich’s Paul Wanner (18), on loan at Heidenheim, is in excellent form this season with two goals and two assists in four games across all competitions this campaign.
Born in Austria, Wanner has represented Germany at youth level, but rejected a call-up to the U21 team by Antonio Di Salvo for their upcoming games against Israel and Estonia to regenerate, as he wants to focus on his task at Heidenheim.
There’s no doubt that the DFB see Wanner in their future plans, but the youngster is also being courted by Austria and has already trained with Ralf Rangnick’s side in November 2022. Wary of the battle they face to integrate Wanner into the senior team, Nagelsmann, who awarded the player his Bayern Munich debut, wants the 18-year-old in the German national team.
“He is a player with a lot of potential, who we at the DFB have firmly in our plans,” said Nagelsmann at Monday’s press conference. “In the end, it’s up to him how early he decides to join the senior national team.”
Nagelsmann also raved about the youngster, adding: “Back then, when I was Bayern coach, I told him a lot of things in the discussions we had. He knows what he needs to work on and knows what he’s exceptionally good at.”
Should Wanner continue to impress at Heidenheim, Nagelsmann hinted that Wanner could receive a call-up to the senior national team in the near future, but Kicker note that Rangnick could also intervene if Germany don’t move quick.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder