Florian Wirtz was briefly the most expensive player in Liverpool's history when he joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2025, but the German has struggled to live up to his transfer fee
Florian Wirtz has struggled since joining Liverpool
Florian Wirtz has struggled since joining Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Former Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer believes Florian Wirtz is struggling under the weight of his £116 million ($155 million) price tag at Anfield, drawing parallels between the German midfielder and Paul Pogba's spell at Manchester United.
Wirtz became the Reds' record signing when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in June 2025, and while there have been glimpses of quality during his maiden campaign, Arne Slot's players endured a frustrating season overall as they stumbled to fifth place.
That disappointing campaign led Liverpool to appoint Andoni Iraola in June, and Wirtz now faces the challenge of adapting to a new manager renowned for his demanding, high-pressure approach.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton disagree on Bournemouth vs Liverpool predictions
READ MORE: Michael Owen names player who 'looks lost' at Liverpool as Andoni Iraola handed four warnings
Smicer, who featured in Liverpool's 2005 Champions League-winning side, has drawn comparisons between Wirtz's experience at Anfield and Pogba's troubled second spell at United, where he struggled following a world-record £89 million ($119 million) transfer from Juventus in 2016.
"It's important to know how Florian is feeling about his time at Liverpool and the Premier League," Smicer told Grosvenor Sport. "I don't know if he is happy here, but I believe he can still unlock something and still do well for Liverpool.
"He is still very young and would like to see him play well for Liverpool and stay at the club for another few years, so for me, at the moment, I wouldn't sell him to Bayern Munich or anybody else.
Paul Pogba failed to live up to his billing at Manchester United
Paul Pogba failed to live up to his billing at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
"He has more inside him, and I think he will probably show it for Liverpool because he's already been unlucky with some of his passes and other players not scoring goals. He is not underachieving if those great passes became assists.
"Some people are expecting a little too much from him, and I think some people are still seeing the fee that Liverpool paid for him rather than the player, and that's the problem. It was the same with Paul Pogba at Manchester United."
Alexander Isak surpassed Wirtz's status as Liverpool's most expensive acquisition when he completed a £125 million ($167 million) switch from Newcastle last September, before the Reds made history by becoming the first club ever to field three players who each cost in excess of nine figures, following the £123 million ($164 million) capture of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain last month.
Smicer, who made 184 appearances during a six-year spell on Merseyside, conceded that record-breaking transfer fees are no guarantee of immediate success. The former Czech Republic star added: "Now Bradley Barcola is facing the same big pressure as Florian Wirtz because the fee was so big. For that kind of money, they are going to expect him to score 20 goals and make 15 assists.
"Why is he not producing that? Well, it's not easy. You can see that money isn't everything. Look at Manchester United and Chelsea and how much money they have spent.
"Every club is trying to find the right players for their system, but sometimes you have to be lucky and that comes down to the chemistry between the players, not what's on paper. You need to create that on the training ground, and then in the games.
"Nobody knows what they're buying, even if a player is £100 million, because are they going to be a good fit with the team? That's why these signings are hard decisions for teams because they need the players on paper, but they don't work out.
"Liverpool need Bradley Barcola on the wing, but is he the answer who is worth £120 million? Only history will tell us that, but you can buy big names, and it doesn't always work.
"Look at Paris Saint-Germain. They had Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and they never won the Champions League until all left and suddenly, boom! Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele are now twice champions of Europe."