Caused two City bookings in the first half but had to be more creative in the first half.placeholder image
Caused two City bookings in the first half but had to be more creative in the first half. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Florian Wirtz has been linked with a shock move to Real Madrid, does this mean that Liverpool have accepted that they signed the wrong playmaker in the summer?
Liverpool signed one of Europe’s hottest players in the summer when they broke the British transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz.
With five assists in 21 appearances, the Germany international has yet to make the sort of impact that was hoped and expected. The numbers haven’t really painted the picture of his first months on Merseyside though with a series of good performances not seeing the results that they deserve. The lack of goals shouldn’t be an issue for someone who contributed 82 goals and assists in 140 Bundesliga games, however, did Richard Hughes sign the right playmaker in the summer?
Did Liverpool sign the wrong playmaker?
It was a big summer for the Premier League in terms of the money spent with almost every club, seemingly, splashing out on a striker and club record fees being broken on a weekly basis. Wingers were also in demand but Liverpool could have saved themselves £75m had they targeted a playmaker who has adapted to life in England quicker than Wirtz and who already has 13 goal contributions in 21 appearances.
For £30m, Liverpool could have signed Rayan Cherki after being linked with the former Lyon magician when the transfer window opened at the end of last season. The Ligue 1’s financial problems mean that they are in a poor position when it comes to negotiating fees, especially those in the last year of their contracts. There is one fundamental difference between Wirtz and Cherki, the France international is brimming with self confidence whereas the Reds no.7 continues to look like a player with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Liverpool have the better player in terms of off the ball discipline, work rate and ability to dictate the tempo of a game, but there is no arguing that Cherki looks more relaxed when he is playing, as seen by his outrageous Rabona assist for Man City. Wirtz can’t do anything about the transfer fee that was paid for him, but he can control how he approaches every game.
What has Xabi Alonso said about Wirtz as Real Madrid eye move
In what would be a huge shock, Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Wirtz where the 22-year old could be reunited with his former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso. Clearly still a fan, the ex-Liverpool midfielder credits Wirtz as one of the reasons why he is in charge of Los Blancos: “For sure [if Wirtz will be a success], I have no doubts. It is just a matter of time. It is a big change for him to come to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, he’s been there all his life.
“It has happened with great players in the Premier League before (that they need time to adjust) and I have no doubts with Flo.He is so special and probably one of the reasons I’m here now (at Real Madrid), so I’m very grateful to Flo.Hopefully not tomorrow (when Liverpool played Real Madrid), but [I’ve no doubt] he will show his quality and class.” If Liverpool sell Wirtz, it suggests that they did sign the wrong playmaker after all.
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