When Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to leave Liverpool earlier this year, it broke supporters’ hearts. Slowly but surely the fans are now starting to come to terms with the Liverpool boss’ decision. Which has been helped by the promise of Xabi Alonso arriving Klopp’s potential replacement.
Alonso is by far and away the favourite candidate to succeed Klopp at Anfield. He’s the favourite for many reasons. For one, his achievements this season are simply unparallel to anyone right now. Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are still the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to lose a single game in all competitions.
On top of that, Alonso is obviously someone who had played at Liverpool for many years. He was a fan favourite during his time at the club. He clearly understands the pressures and the requirements that come with being a manager of Liverpool Football Club. This will undoubtedly help him settle into the impossible challenge that is replacing Klopp.
To do that, Alonso may want to bring his own players, and there is one who he could very well make his first signing if he is to take the job.
Who Xabi Alonso could make his first signing at Liverpool
One of the biggest questions about Alonso’s potential succession of Klopp at Liverpool is whether the Spaniard would use the same 4-3-3 formation, or whether he would opt to use his own 3-4-2-1 formation at Leverkusen.
Right now clearly the profile of players Alonso would have at his disposal means Liverpool are much better suited to playing the 4-3-3 formation. It’s a formation that still works to bring out Alonso’s core principle of short-passing and quick build-up play that has made his Leverkusen side a success.
However, Alonso can make the squad more suited to his own 3-4-2-1 formation with a few new signings. Including signing someone who I have been following for a very long time, and who I think could be Alonso’s perfect first Liverpool transfer.
Florian Wirtz has been on Liverpool’s radar for a long time
I’ve been following Florian Wirtz for a long time now. So have Liverpool’s scouts. Back when he was still playing at Cologne, I understand the Reds were one of the clubs who were interested in his services. But back then, Wirtz opted for Leverkusen instead.
I remember speaking to Wirtz’s former coach Markus Daun in an interview on First Time Finish about just what made the youngster so special. Daun had worked with him at Cologne, and then joined Leverkusen around the same time as Wirtz. He knew him on and off the pitch as well as anyone. Back then, Daun waxed lyrical about Wirtz’s talent.
“He controls the ball perfectly without having to watch the ball. In addition, he can process the game quicker and evaluate situations on the go. He can anticipate the next 2-3 steps before they even happen.
“He has incredibly good athletic ability, extreme endurance and good fitness. I think that’s the basis of his ability and one of his strengths. One he performs week in and week out.
“This was the case at a younger age. In terms of his athleticism, he was already a professional, even back with me. He never wanted to lose a single match in training, either. He always wanted to continue training. When I said the workout was over he still wanted to continue. You could not stop him.”
Based on Daun’s words almost three years ago now, I was certain Wirtz would go far. He was special back then and he is even more special now. Even a serious ACL injury could not derail his career.
This season Wirtz has been on the linchpin of Alonso’s side making 24 goal contributions already. He’s still very much on Liverpool’s radar. And while it’s difficult to see where he would fit in Jurgen Klopp’s current system at the club, under Alonso’s own system, Wirtz is exactly the type of player the Spaniard would need to bring in to make things work at Anfield.
Which is why I am convinced if Alonso takes the job, Wirtz will be his first Liverpool signing. It simply makes sense.
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