Wirtz’s Liverpool Transfer Hinged on No. 10 Role, Wenger Reveals as Alonso Predicts Success
Liverpool’s record-breaking £116 million (€130m, $150m) acquisition of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer came with a important condition, according to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The revelation sheds light on potential tactical shifts at Anfield and explains some early challenges in integrating the highly-touted playmaker.
Wenger, speaking as a pundit for bein Sports, detailed the agreement reached between Liverpool and Wirtz, who also attracted interest from Bayern munich and Real Madrid.”Wirtz had the chance between Munich and Liverpool,” Wenger stated. “He said to Liverpool, ‘I’ll come to you if I play number 10 – I do not want to play wide.'”
To secure Wirtz’s signature, Liverpool reportedly acquiesced to his demand, a decision Wenger believes fundamentally altered the club’s midfield dynamic. “To get him, Liverpool said OK [to Wirtz’s request].So they destroyed their midfield, because their midfield was Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai,” he explained. “To play Wirtz, they took Szoboszlai out, and then what did they do against Aston Villa? They went back to their normal midfield of last year.”
Despite the initial tactical adjustments, Wirtz has shown flashes of brilliance in his new surroundings, particularly in Champions league matches. He delivered two of his strongest performances to date for Liverpool against Real Madrid – a 1-0 victory – and Eintracht frankfurt, a 5-1 rout. Notably, in both games, Wirtz thrived in a role that allowed him significant freedom to roam, starting on the left against Madrid and on the right against Frankfurt.
Wenger acknowledged the potential for Wirtz to adapt to a wider position, noting that Liverpool’s manager has communicated a willingness to utilize him ther if necessary. “Because the manager has said [to wirtz], ‘if you want to play a game, you have to play wide, because I don’t want to disturb the midfield.’ That will be interesting to see,” Wenger added.
Wirtz’s performance against Real Madrid underscored his adaptability. He was unlucky not to register an assist, delivering a cross to Dominik Szoboszlai that forced a world-class save from Thibaut Courtois. According to Sofascore,Wirtz earned a rating of 7.3, contributing five key passes in the first half alone – the moast of any player on the pitch during that period. he completed 86% of his passes, made two triumphant dribbles, and created five chances in 88 minutes, earning a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd.
His former manager at Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso, expressed unwavering confidence in Wirtz’s eventual success at Liverpool.”Without a doubt [he will be a success], I have no doubts,” Alonso said prior to the Champions League clash. “It is just a matter of time. It is a big change for him to come to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, he’s been there all his life. He needs to adapt, but he is a really special player.He has the quality, personality, and he’s competitive.” Alonso even suggested Wirtz played a role in his own move to Real Madrid, stating, “He is so special and probably one of the reasons I’m here now…so I’m very grateful to Flo.”
Looking ahead, the question remains where manager Arne Slot will deploy Wirtz when Liverpool face Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday. Nonetheless, Alonso believes Wirtz will soon consistently showcase his quality.
In other Liverpool news, Conor Bradley’s impressive defensive performance against Real Madrid has drawn praise from Slot and club legend Robbie Fowler.Reports also suggest Liverpool are considering a significant january transfer window, potentially spending £202 million on reinforcements, tho securing all targets may prove challenging. Moreover, questions have been raised regarding the early struggles of summer signing Milos Kerkez, with the club reassessing its full-back options.
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