Intends to get around the German and takes indirect route (8)
I believe the answer is:
meanders
'takes indirect route' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't see how one could define the other.
'intends to get around the german' is the wordplay.
'intends' becomes 'means' ('mean' can be a synonym of 'intend').
'to get around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the german' becomes 'der' ('the' in German).
'means' going around 'der' is 'MEANDERS'.
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for meanders that I've seen before include "Wanders about with no fixed destination" , "Follows a winding course" , "Wanders randomly" , "Rambles, wanders" , "(Of river) winds" .)