Negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen are running through, but there is a drive from the parties to see Liverpool’s Florian Wharts in the coming weeks.
Certainly, this is a dizzying deal, but it offers Liverpool a true elite creative player who has been praised by former Leverkusen man Patrick Helms as “probably the best midfielder in the world.”
The problem is that 22-year-old Wirtz is pretty good. Certainly, this is stupid money, but honestly, is there a player worth giving up on the UK record amount for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isaac?
Florian Worts of the Bundesliga | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (*per game) | 23/24 | 24/25 |
Match (start) | 32 (26) | 31 (25) |
the goal | 11 | 10 |
assist | 11 | 12 |
Shot (target)* | 2.2 (1.1) | 2.5 (1.3) |
Pass completed | 85% | 82% |
A big opportunity has been created | 12 | 17 |
Key Pass* | 2.3 | 1.8 |
dribble* | 2.5 | 2.6 |
Ball recovery* | 4.5 | 3.6 |
Tackle + Intercept* | 1.1 | 1.3 |
The duel won* | 4.4 | 5.2 |
Data based on sofa score | ||
Liverpool wants their money, and they get it with their prowess as offensive midfielders with elite ball-carrying skills.
It’s been a while since the Reds had such a profile. You may need to go back to Philippe Coutinho to find players at Wirtz’s technical level or to find players at similar locations.
Liverpool wants Coutinho 2.0
Dominik Szoboszlai is an offensive midfielder, but he is more diligent and craftsman in football, earning 15 goals and 14 assists from 94 Liverpool appearances since joining from RB Leipzig in a £60 million deal.
What Slot wants is Coutinho 2.0. Liverpool sold the Brazilian sensation to Barcelonaway in January 2018 for a price of £142 million. Drop your chin. It facilitated the relocation of Virgil van Dik and Allison Becker, effectively creating the foundation for Jurgen Klopp’s achievement of his illustrious success.
Klopp was praised as a “world class” player in his final full season at Anfield, and Coutinho played the role of an instrument in the rise of Liverpool’s meteors.
However, after his sale, Liverpool’s midfield has grown to be more dynamic over the past few years, but has returned to a more focused, practical style.
Wirtz was chosen as a man to take the baton. I’m sure Liverpool will seal the signatures of German International, but in football, you will never know, just like life.
Therefore, FSG has secured a contingency plan.
Liverpool will consult with Wirtz alternatives
According to Athletic’s reliable David Ornstein, Liverpool has been discussing with Lyon star Rayan Cherki to do due diligence on various targets in case Wirtz’s bid collapses.
In fact, Slot is understood to leave his holiday and fly south of France to have face-to-face chats with French talent.
If Liverpool is piping Man City to a 22-year-old who costs Man City more than 30 million euros (£25 million), then it needs to be quick as Pep Guardiola is trying to seal the deal in the next few days.
What Rayan Cherki brings to Liverpool
Cherki is one of the most talented players in the world, and one of the most talented, skilled and skilled players. The warning is that he is tagged with a reputation for bad attitude, but his performance over the past year speaks of new maturity.
With 44 to 32 direct targets involved in all competitions this season, it’s clear that Cherki is authentic, even what data analyst Ben Matinson considers as “Balondoor level talent.”
Located towards the center or right wing, the left footer is a creative threat with the ability to score goals with outstanding finesse. Furthermore, it appears he has reached a new level in terms of his output.
Rayan Cherki – Career Statistics by Season (All Comps) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
season | App | the goal | assist |
24/25 | 44 | 12 | 20 |
23/24 | 39 | 3 | 9 |
22/23 | 39 | 5 | 6 |
21/22 | 20 | 2 | 4 |
20/21 | 30 | 4 | 4 |
19/20 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
Statistics through the Transfer Market | |||
Such qualities suggest that he brings a Coutinho style to Liverpool in the slots, especially when looking at the underlying data.
According to FBREF, Cherki has been ranked in the top 1% of European top five league position peers this season for assists, shot-making action and progressive pass, and ranked in the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.
A successful take-on is recorded when the player defeats the opponent while bringing the ball directly into the possession.
Such metrics suggest that Cherki is not only a playmaking wizard, but also a ball’s own ambitious driver. Certainly, his flashy footwork and valetite walnuts blocked many League One and Europa League backlines. It was created by Coutinho in Liverpool.
So where do we have all of this? Well, Liverpool will actually hijack the Cherki move in Man City if they actually reach an agreement with Leverkusen for Wirtz.
But if that happened, Liverpool could have won the absolute blind man by stealing Cherki from the civilian clutch. Really, he has an X-factor about him that players rarely have. Wirtz was one of those rare geniuses, and Coutinho, who returned to his heyday, was another.
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