Responding to Danny Murphy on talkSPORT, Simon Jordan questioned whether Florian Wirtz would fit Andoni Iraola’s system if Murphy’s assessment is correct, and asked whether Liverpool could sell him
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St James' Park on August 23, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Florian Wirtz still hasn't really found his feet at Liverpool(Image: Getty)
Premier League pundit Simon Jordan has branded Florian Wirtz "not fit for purpose" amid his stuttering start to life at Liverpool.
The German midfielder is finding it difficult to justify the $153.5 million fee that brought him to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen last year. Reds legend Jamie Carragher has even called for the 23-year-old, signed for $132.3 million plus $21.1 million in add-ons, to be axed from manager Andoni Iraola's starting line-up.
Appearing on talkSPORT, fellow Liverpool alumnus Danny Murphy added to the criticism by acknowledging that Wirtz is "struggling", suggesting he may lack the physical attributes required for the Premier League. Murphy did, however, argue that Wirtz deserves further time to bed into Andoni Iraola's setup — though patience amongst Merseyside supporters is rapidly running out.
Responding to Murphy, Jordan questioned: "You look at it and say, five-year contract depreciating at £20m a year. On their books at £70m now, can they get out of it if they need to?".
"Can they get out of it and find a way to get him out of the door if he's not going to fit? I'm not the best person to assess whether a player can change their direction of travel because of their physicality.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
"But if all the things Danny suggests are absolutely prevalent to what Iraola's success is going to be, or not, then the player's not going to be fit for purpose, is he?"
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham at Anfield on September 12, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz is still a big talking point at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Jordan's remarks imply that Wirtz's market value has fallen by approximately $39.6 million since his move to England. Beyond the financial implications, offloading the No. 10 at such a significant loss would represent a damning indictment of Liverpool's recruitment strategy.
Having averaged a goal or assist every 1.61 matches at Bayer Leverkusen, that figure has slipped to a direct goal contribution every three games since joining the Reds. Wirtz, who commands £200,000 a week at Anfield, has managed just a single assist across six appearances this season.
Despite his difficulties adapting to English football, Liverpool remain unbeaten across all competitions so far this campaign.
Iraola's backline has notably tightened since he first took charge, though three draws from five Premier League outings falls short of the standards the club had anticipated.
Given the player's reported salary, identifying a willing buyer at this stage may prove no straightforward task. Liverpool currently have nine players on their books commanding at least $264,000 a week, with Virgil van Dijk heading that list at $463,000 a week.
The club can scarcely afford to carry any of those players at such considerable expense. A growing school of thought in certain quarters suggests Liverpool may well be better served cutting their losses sooner rather than later.