**Liverpool were due a big summer last year after winning the Premier League, and that is exactly what they were provided, as several high-profile figures made the switch to Anfield to begin Arne Slot’s proper rebuild, after only signing Federico Chiesa in the first summer of his reign.**
One of the most exciting additions to the squad was Florian Wirtz, as the Reds beat Manchester City and Bayern Munich to his signature to become the club’s most expensive signing for £116 million. That lasted a few weeks until Alexander Isak arrived for £125 million from Newcastle
The German was one of the best players in the Bundesliga as he was named the league’s player of the year in 2023/24, as he helped Bayer Leverkusen win the league title, and he was named in the league’s team of the year the following season. [He had big expectations once arriving on Merseyside, and it’s fair to say he has yet to hit them.](https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/wirtz-liverpool-dressing-room/)
He has been a regular through the season, with 33 appearances in the Premier League; however, he has only got nine goal contributions to his name, and some Kopites have questioned his ability in front of goal, whether that’s his ball striking quality or whether he can successfully put the ball into dangerous areas for teammates to get on the end of.
Introduced as a true attacking talent, he has failed to live up to the hype in his debut campaign, and now it’s left for fans to speculate if he can turn it around next season; otherwise, the door could already be opening for the exit. In a post-Mohamed Salah world, players like Wirtz need to chip in, and there hasn’t been enough to suggest he can.
Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew spoke on [talkSPORT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw7vqF_Q8UA) where he named the 22-year-old as the most disappointing signing last summer, and he believed he had the quality to really set Anfield alight.
He said, “He really thought he was a player that was going to lift the Premier League, but he’s just not had any moments, he’s had tiny moments, tiny. So if (James) Maddison was playing for Liverpool …. he would have done better than Wirtz has done by some distance.
“£125 million or whatever it was, I’m afraid ohhh, that looks like bad business to me”.
The German hasn’t been perfect, but many fans would agree that they would rather have him in the team than Maddison, who has not only been affected by injuries but also doesn’t have the ceiling that Wirtz can and should tap into.
However, Pardew is correct that at this current moment, the deal looks like ‘bad business’, with them having to heavily invest in the market once again this summer to find other players to fit in immediately to alleviate some of the pressure the team faces after barely qualifying for the Champions League.
One of the biggest challenges the club face next season is allowing the players from last summer to settle in with another load of new faces, and that’s where only of the biggest challenges comes in the shape of Arne Slot.
The German isn’t the only player Liverpool have yet to see the best from. Outside of Hugo Ekitike, the other signings have struggled massively to adapt to the style and expectations of the club, and Wirtz has yet to settle into a position. Against Brentford, he was utilised off the left wing, and that has been a common theme time and time again, yet it won’t get the best out of the 22-year-old.
The Dutch head coach believes that new additions will make his side improve, and a left winger is expected, though, where does Wirtz fit in then? Does he get a chance to prove his doubters wrong or is he already thrown aside by the 47-year-old? It isn’t solely Slot’s blame he isn’t performing, though it isn’t just the Germans’ fault either.
He will now prepare for this summers World Cup before returning to England, though despite the tough 12 months he’s faced, every fan wants him to become the success they believed he could be as they pray to make the return to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League next season.