Florian Wirtz signed for Liverpool for a £116m in June from Bayer Leverkusen - but has so far yet to justify that outlay in his opening months at Anfield
Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.
Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Florian Wirtz has had his 'bravery' to choose Liverpool over Bayern Munich commended by former striker Neil Mellor, who has backed an "unbelievable player" to eventually flourish in the Premier League.
Wirtz had been tracked by Manchester City and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich but Anfield was his destination of choice after the Premier League winners struck a deal worth up to £116m with Bayer Leverkusen in June.
Germany international Wirtz was widely viewed as one of the finest young talents on the continent when he made his switch to Merseyside in the summer but the attacking midfielder has yet to truly get going under Arne Slot.
Liverpool have suffered seven defeats in their last 10 and Wirtz has suffered at times in the more physical and combative Premier League.
Mellor, though, thinks it is only a matter of time before Reds fans see the best of the 22-year-old as the 2005 Champions League winner gave a firm insistence that the creative Wirtz will eventually show his class.
"I was made up when he signed for Liverpool," Mellor told Sky Sports News. "And I was thinking: 'Phew, that's brave!'
"Bayern Munich wanted him and it would have been an easy option to stay in the Bundesliga and sign for Bayern Munich. So he's been really brave to come to the Premier League.
"We know it is the best league in the world with the physicality, the intensity, and it will take time to adjust at Liverpool. I've seen this lad this season and forget what social media says, this lad is an unbelievable player.
"He hasn't started all the games, [some] people are asking for him to be taken out and he has been at times, he didn't start the Merseyside derby against Everton, against Manchester United, against Chelsea. So he has been given a bit of time to try and adjust.
"But there is a player there. There is an unbelievable talent of a player who can find pockets of spaces against really compact defences and make things happen. And people will say he hasn't got an assist and I can't argue with that but he does create chances.
"He creates chances and Liverpool have been a bit wasteful with some of those he has created. I don't know where his position is long term. He played against Arsenal and Atletico Madrid this season, which were fantastic results for Liverpool, as the No.10.
"He was that No.10 in there and he got into some great positions, outstanding. Against Real Madrid, it was the best performance from Liverpool this season and he was out on the left, drifting inside. Against Frankfurt, he played in a 4-4-2 on the right-hand side, he is capable of playing in different positions."
Mellor added: "I think if you are not producing the numbers in terms of assists and goals, the manager will play where you are needed. I think, long term, this lad will be spoken about as one of the best players in the Premier League.
"And it hasn't been the case [so far] this season but it is a long season. He will produce moments this season, remember the Chelsea one? Where he created that chance for Mo Salah and he put it wide. If that goes in, people say it's one of the best assists we've seen this season.
"He will produce moments that will turn all this negative talk about Wirtz not influencing games and why Liverpool signed him. I really believe in him, he is a top player.
"He was the best player in the Bundesliga, that is why Liverpool paid the money they did. For a young lad, 22, he's played countless times for Germany, scoring goals, assists. It will be a matter of time before those numbers start arriving.
"I think in the Champions League, his numbers he has got a few assists in there. I watch him and think he is an unbelievable player. Maybe at times, the pass hasn't been taken, the finish has been wasteful or he hasn't been found when he is in acres of space.
"So I don't think those numbers are too far away from getting a lot higher than they are at the moment."