Liverpool should be keeping an eye on the latest reports coming out of Germany about Florian Wirtz.
The 18-year-old wonderkid has previously been reported as being of interest to the top teams around Europe, including Liverpool (Liverpool Echo).
Now, Bild carry quotes about Wirtz from Leverkusen Managing Director Fernando Carro. He has claimed that the player will stay at the club until ‘at least’ 2024.
Wirtz, who has already been called ‘outstanding’ by German national team coach Hansi Flick via bundesliga.com has a contract until 2026.
That shouldn’t perturb Liverpool. Wirtz is a special talent and could be the long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino.
Roberto Firmino 2.0
Firmino’s current deal is expiring in 2023. If the Brazilian doesn’t extend terms with The Reds, then that could lead to a gap between him leaving and Wirtz being brought in.
But the Leverkusen player is simply that good. The wait would be well worth it for Liverpool.
A Bundesliga player since 16-years-old, Wirtz has already played 76 times for Bayer since joining in January 2020. In that time he has 19 goals, with 10 coming this season.
But it’s the way that he plays that is so reminiscent of Liverpool’s number 9.
Wirtz usually plays in the number 10 position. He usually has either Patrick Schick or Lucas Alario ahead of him.
That allows him to pick the ball up and create chances from deep positions. His ability to glide past defenders before picking a pass in the last third is brilliant to watch.
This is obviously different from Firmino’s role at Liverpool. Bobby is nominally the furthest forward of the Liverpool front-line.
But in practice, it rarely works out that way. Firmino drops deep and looks for the runs of the wide attackers ahead of him.
Making room for Jota
Diogo Jota has previously been cited as the player who can replace Firmino’s role in the team.
But the two are very different players. Jota’s main assets are his pace and his knack for finding space in the penalty area. He is better suited to the left-hand side of Liverpool’s attack.
To watch Wirtz play is to see a player much more in line with Firmino’s quality between the lines.
Only Thomas Muller has more than the teenager’s 10 Bundesliga assists this season. He also has three goals and three assists in four Europa League starts this campaign.
There’s no question that Wirtz would come at a cost. But he doesn’t turn 19 until May. By the summer of 2024, Wirtz would barely be 21-years-old.
It will be a sad day when Firmino leaves Liverpool. But whether they have to wait two years or not, Wirtz can be the man to succeed the 30-year-old’s iconic legacy as Liverpool’s false number nine.
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