Why Liverpool Are So Ambitious To Bring Florian Wirtz

Liverpool is not a team that is accustomed to purchasing players at exorbitant prices. However, for the attacking midfielder of the German national team, Florian Wirtz, they are reportedly willing to break the club's transfer record. There is a logical reason behind the ambition of "The Reds" to bring in the 22-year-old player.

According to Sky Sports, Liverpool's latest offer to Bayer Leverkusen reached 134 million euros or Rp2.49 trillion. That value far exceeds the club's transfer record when bringing in striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica (85 million euros). Liverpool also has the potential to break the Premier League transfer record.

Wirtz, the best player in the German League for the 2023-24 season, is indeed exceptional. However, his price has become a topic of debate. There are several midfielders with nearly similar profiles who are significantly cheaper. One of them is Olympique Lyon player Rayan Cherki, with a market value of 45 million euros.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool approached both Wirtz and Cherki in the summer transfer window. However, their interest in Cherki waned midway. Specifically after Wirtz chose Liverpool over Bayern Munich.

The rumor clarifies that the team coached by Arne Slot has indeed prioritized Wirtz from the beginning. They seem to desire the player regardless of the cost. So, what is the actual reason that makes Liverpool willing to invest such a significant amount for just one player?

Last season, at the beginning of the Slot era, Liverpool more frequently employed a 4-2-3-1 formation. The position that was most often rotated was the central striker. This included Diogo Jota and Nunez, who are accustomed to that position, as well as Luis Diaz, a winger, who was also tried in rotation.

It is clear that Slot has yet to find the most suitable figure to lead the front line. Players in that position are also what is being sought in this summer transfer window. The question is, why is Liverpool targeting Wirtz, who is originally an attacking midfielder?

The Liverpool formation indeed involves a central striker. However, the role of the spearhead is not that of a pure striker waiting in the penalty box. Jota or Diaz are more flexible in their movements, assisting in the midfield or on the flanks. They play the role of "false forwards."

"The Red", on the field, tends to adopt a 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 formation. The central striker plays a role similar to that of an attacking midfielder, typically occupied by Dominik Szoboszlai. This approach makes the presence of Wirtz seem very reasonable.

Leverkusen played with formations 3-4-2-1 and 3-5-2. Wirtz played as an attacking midfielder or forward on the left side in both formations. When deployed as a forward, his role did not change significantly. He more frequently operated outside rather than inside the penalty area.

Slot stated last September that Szoboszlai needs to improve the quality of his final product as an attacking midfielder. Liverpool requires goals from all attacking players as they do not have a pure striker. "We need to involve him more in scoring or creating opportunities," he said.

Szoboszlai's goal contributions have doubled in the English Premier League for the 2024-25 season (6 goals). However, this figure is still far below that of the "number 10" players in other teams, such as Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) or Cole Palmer (Chelsea), who have managed to score 15 goals.

Wirtz offers advantages in the final product. He has consistently produced double-digit goals and assists in the German League over the last two seasons. The total is 21 goals and 25 assists in 63 matches. Wirtz is the "number 10" figure that Liverpool needs.

So, will Wirtz replace Szoboszlai's role? Most likely not. The presence of Wirtz will actually complement Szoboszlai's role. They have great potential to form a duo in the attacking line. Wirtz's best position leans more to the left, while Szoboszlai is on the right.

His role is also different. Wirtz is focused on creating or capitalizing on opportunities. His position is more advanced, but he often drops back to receive the ball like a "false nine." Szoboszlai will move more into the penalty area from the midfield. Szoboszlai's great strength and energy are highly relied upon.

"Wirtz is a direct player (in creating chances). He can speed up the game with just one touch. That's what makes him ideal for Liverpool. Their attack is very fast and very vertical," said Toni Kroos, the former Germany midfielder, in an opinion piece for The Athletic.

The Liverpool system heavily relies on quick counter-attacks. They utilize the speed of their players, particularly Mohamed Salah, to exploit gaps in the opponent's defense. The faster the attack, the greater the likelihood of scoring. This is what allows them to remain dangerous even without a pure striker.

According to The Analyst, Slot's team recorded the highest chance value in the league last season with 76.36 xG (expected goals). That value is excluding penalties. No other team recorded more than 66.01 xG. Imagine if Wirtz, who has high efficiency in front of goal, joined Liverpool. That combination would be very deadly.

Moreover, Wirtz possesses a high fighting spirit that aligns perfectly with the "DNA" of Liverpool. He is always ready to run back and assist the team's defense when the ball is lost. Furthermore, "The Reds" are known as one of the teams with the most intense high-block defenses in the league.

“I have the physical strength to face many duels. I always give everything in every game to win. So, I always run (when out of control) to help the team succeed. I will keep running until I can't anymore,” Wirtz said in an interview with Werkself Magazin.

Liverpool has no choice but to bring in Wirtz. Only in this way can the quality of their squad be guaranteed to improve significantly. As the defending champions, they must be stronger than last season, as rival teams are also very serious this summer and are ready to seize the throne. (AP/REUTERS)