Liverpool offered answer to Florian Wirtz issue as Andoni Iraola faces major decision

Florian Wirtz had a steady if unspectacular first season at Liverpool following his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen – but what should happen next?

If matters have been somewhat quiet for Liverpool in the transfer window so far this summer, that certainly wasn’t the case this time last year.

Come early July, the Reds were already halfway through their record-breaking £450million transfer splurge, with the £116m capture of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen the standout.

Wirtz, though, struggled to consistently hit the heights during a difficult debut campaign followed by a World Cup that was ended abruptly with Germany’s shock round-of-32 defeat to a very defence-minded Paraguay.

More, then, is expected of the 23-year-old under Andoni Iraola. But what should the new Liverpool head coach do with the talented attacking midfielder? Our ECHO writers take a look…

Paul Gorst
In the German national team, Florian Wirtz often finds himself shunted out wide to accommodate Jamal Musiala, a similarly gifted playmaker from Bayern Munich.

The Reds’ No.10 was also placed on wide left at times under Arne Slot last season, particularly when the head coach wanted more solidity and surety in central areas to arrest the alarming slump in form around November and December time.

But Wirtz is not the archetypal wide forward. His pace is not his best asset and he relies more on speed of thought and movement. Therefore, his best role is surely as the most advanced midfielder going forward.

Wirtz is good enough to have a team built around him, but for that to happen, the creative midfielder needs pace and movement ahead of him, which he lacked last season as Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo both struggled.

That is Andoni Iraola’s task to change now. While there were encouraging signs seeing Wirtz link up with Hugo Ekitike at times last season, it is the relationship with Alexander Isak that now needs to be nurtured.

Wirtz will excel as a No.10 with quick players ahead of him. Utilising him in wide areas simply fails to maximize his potential. It’s a big season ahead for Wirtz but he will only begin to show what he can really do when given a consistent run as the side’s creative fulcrum, centrally.

Ian Doyle
Florian Wirtz may have been bought as a number 10 under Arne Slot, but it says much about the season of both the team and player that he spent significant parts playing elsewhere last term.