Liverpool fans will already be incredibly excited to see their first glimpses of Florian Wirtz at Anfield next season.
After a seriously competitive race for the German’s signature, Florian Wirtz is now a Liverpool player and the transfer could reach £127m when factoring in add-ons.
Liverpool will soon be heading to Asia for their pre-season tour and will play the likes of AC Milan in Hong Kong before they then travel to Japan for the first time as a club.
The likes of Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong should all be on hand to showcase their skill to Liverpool fans far and wide.
And it also shouldn’t be ruled out that Liverpool could have a new striker before they head away next month — the next target on Richard Hughes’ hitlist.
Alan Shearer says where he thinks Florian Wirtz will play for Liverpool
That being said, both Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker took a moment to discuss Liverpool’s exciting transfer business on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast.
Lineker initially gave a round-up of Liverpool’s ‘impressive’ activity so far before then asking Shearer where he thought Wirtz would play next season.
Turning his attention to Anfield, Lineker said: “Liverpool have been very impressive so far, I think, with the signings that they’ve done.
“They’ve just completed Florian Wirtz for £160m — it’s a lot of dough for Bayer Leverkusen, but he’s a wonderfully talented player.
Liverpool Unveil New Signing Florian Wirtz
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
READ MORE: What Liverpool sources now keep saying about potentially signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace
“Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for around £40m. They join Jeremie Frimpong who signed a couple of weeks ago, all three worth just under £200m.”
Lineker continued: “Where do you think Wirtz will play? I mean, obviously he’s a player that can play as an eight, but also as a 10.”
Shearer replied: “I think it will be floating between the two. I think he’ll have one, obviously Salah on one side and whoever on the other side, and it will be him, that will be the 10, the forward.
“They’ll just sort of rotate and do what they have to do. So I think that’s where he’ll play.”
Lineker: “Yeah and [Alexander] Isak as the nine, right?”
Shearer: “No chance.”
Dominik Szoboszlai could suffer after Florian Wirtz move
Of course, it should be pointed out that Dominik Szoboszlai is currently the number eight/number 10 who is operating in a similar role for Slot.
And as a result of Shearer’s comments, which a lot of Liverpool fans might agree with, the move could be bad news for the £60m midfielder.
Szoboszlai made 49 appearances under Slot last season scoring eight goals and providing nine assists, but the majority of those chances did come as an attacking midfielder.
And whilst Wirtz can also play in wide areas, it would seem odd for Liverpool to spend such a big fee on a player they were planning to start out of position.
Szoboszlai will still play a lot of games next season, but he might have to become more accustomed to making an impact off the bench, or simply playing in a slightly deeper role.
Arne Slot speaking to Dominik Szoboszlai during a Liverpool match.
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Who is the perfect striker to join Florian Wirtz at Liverpool?
Harping back to his comments, Lineker isn’t the only person who believes that Liverpool could sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, even if he was just winding Shearer up somewhat.
Should there be any issues in Isak’s contract talks right now, TBR Football understands that Liverpool are ready to make a move.
Liverpool are also interested in Victor Osimhen from Napoli, and perhaps there is some scope for Darwin Nunez and the Nigerian striker to trade places.
Either way, Hughes and his transfer team are wasting very little time this summer — a club who have been waiting for their chance to improve Slot’s squad.
Hughes and Slot have been planning this window for some time and from the outside looking in, the Reds appear to be working seamlessly.
And whilst Isak would look phenomenal playing just ahead of Wirtz next season, the same could easily be said of Osimhen or Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.