Liverpool completed a mega-money deal to sign Florian Wirtz but after needing months to acclimatise at Anfield, he still has some critics.
A £115m deal was agreed with Bayer Leverkusen in the summer to bring the German to Merseyside.
It was a deal that was greeted by online fans with excitement and in some quarters, shock. Shock because Liverpool have rarely in their history signed the best players.
They have, instead, tended to go for players about to break into the world class bracket. Wirtz was world class already last season.
Has Florian Wirtz been hit or miss for Liverpool this season?
Pundits Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott were discussing this season’s top transfers on the Stick to Football podcast, and when they came to Wirtz, there were varying takes.
Carragher was fairly neutral, commenting on whether or not he has been hit or miss: “I think he’s in the middle. He’s a maybe. He’s definitely improved.”
No summer signing in the Premier League has created more chances than Florian Wirtz this season (44). ? pic.twitter.com/V4oLbtyxkH
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) February 13, 2026
Wrighty spoke a bit more positively, saying: “He done some good stuff, you can see he’s coming on.”
Scott said: “He just needs a bit of time.”
Keane, however, believes Wirtz will find his true best form for Liverpool next season, comparing him to Luka Modric.
“I still think it’ll take him a full season to get up to speed,” Keane said. “I think next year.
“I remember when Modric and all these boys took their time at Spurs to get used to the physicality, and he ended up playing in a two. I could not see how he (Modric) was going to become a top player.”
The sky is the limit for Wirtz
The young German has been severely affected by Liverpool’s miserable season. Had he walked into an unchanged squad from the one that lifted the Premier League title last season, things might have been different.
However, the fact that Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City were all desperate to sign him should speak volumes of how good the 22-year-old is.
This season – despite the obvious problems – has not been a failure for Wirtz, who has six goals and eight assists. There is still the potential for him to end the season with double figures for both goals and assists.