REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
While Alexander Isak has started to come good at Liverpool, the Swede's recent resurgence has only served to put Florian Wirtz even further under the microscope.
The hope was that having endured a disappointing debut campaign at Anfield, like Isak, the £116m German would click into gear under new man Andoni Iraola, having been afforded the time to get up to speed in English football.
The new Premier League season is only five games old, and yet Wirtz still hasn't looked anywhere close to the player who ripped it up at Bayer Leverkusen.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Should his long-term Liverpool future already be in doubt?
Are Liverpool already looking to sell Wirtz?
The departure of Richard Hughes is set to see FSG make an internal appointment to fill that sporting director role, with Julian Ward in line to return to Merseyside.
Ward, who previously held the post back in the 2022/23 season, will be tasked with righting the wrongs of recent years in terms of recruitment, the lavish spending overseen by Hughes having not translated to on-field success.
REUTERS/Scott Heppell
The 45-year-old will also inherit the Wirtz problem, with there already speculation as to whether the Reds might be best served calling it quits, amid interest from back in the Bundesliga.
As reported by TEAMtalk, however, Liverpool aren't currently looking to sell the 23-year-old and remain 'firmly committed' to giving him the time to make his mark on Merseyside.
It is said that long-term admirers Bayern Munich have been in contact with the player's representatives, although there is no sense that a swift return to Germany is on the cards at this stage.
If Bayern really did ramp up their interest, the report indicates that Liverpool, now set to be led by Ward, would be looking to make a profit with any sale, further reason why an exit appears unlikely.
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The hope is that Wirtz turns a corner sooner rather than later, with the international break potentially set to aid matters in that regard.
Why Jurgen Klopp could be key to Wirtz's revival
If the playmaker is in need of some advice on how to make a success of it at Anfield, who better to turn to than Jurgen Klopp, the legendary Liverpool boss having begun his tenure as Germany's new manager.
REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
As per the aforementioned TEAMtalk report, Iraola and co are said to be hopeful that this period away with Klopp could help Wirtz to regain his confidence, ensuring he returns with momentum behind him next month.
It wasn't exactly a stellar World Cup for the Germans, although Wirtz did register three assists across his four appearances, with international football having been a welcome solace during his time at Liverpool.
Indeed, he notably scored against Northern Ireland last September in World Cup qualification, prior to netting against Finland in a friendly in May.
Sandwiched in-between was a standout showing against Switzerland in another friendly clash in March, as the ex-Leverkusen man contributed two goals and two assists in that 4-3 win.
Let's hope another fine few weeks sparks a change of fortunes back at club level, with Wirtz surely not one of the players that Ward should be looking to shift any time soon.
Why Liverpool star should already be up for sale
The transfer window only came to a close earlier this month, and yet there is already speculation regarding the potential incomings and outgoings that could occur heading into 2027.
Liverpool manager Androni Iraola poses for a photograph before the press conference
Liverpool manager Androni Iraola poses for a photograph before the press conference
Indeed, there are peripheral figures in the squad who are seemingly long overdue a move, with both Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa having been left out of Iraola's Champions League squad.
There could also be movement at left-back too, with reports suggesting that the Reds and Ward might look to rival Manchester United for the signing of Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell, the 27-year-old having been a mainstay at Selhurst Park for an extended period now.
REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
That interest provides an indication as to what the Reds think of Kostas Tsimikas, with the Greek defender surely on borrowed time at Anfield, amid his surprise return to the fold this summer.
Cast out on loan to Roma last year, following the signing of Milos Kerkez, the 30-year-old has only been reintegrated as a result of the need to fill Andy Robertson's void in the first-team squad.
Liverpool's Andy Robertson celebrates after the match
It's only taken seven games of the new season in all competitions for that decision to backfire, with it looking as if Tsimikas has already been cast aside by Iraola.
The long-serving left-back was handed a surprise start in the 0-0 draw against Fulham, yet failed to take his chance, replaced by the aforementioned Kerkez at the break.
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Kerkez vs Fulham
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Even more damningly, Tsimikas was left out of the matchday squad altogether for the Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur, an omission that doesn't exactly bode well for his hopes of regular game time under the Spaniard.
Putting the 51-cap Greek star up for sale already, ahead of January, would feel like a long-overdue move considering he arrived way back in 2020, with Liverpool needing to find a more worthy rival to Kerkez on that left flank.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Wirtz, considering the price tag, is a more pressing issue for both Iraola and Ward, yet the German still has time on his side to find his groove.
For Tsimikas and co, meanwhile, he's had more than enough time to impress on Merseyside.
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