FSG can overlook Wirtz by signing a £67m “celebrity” for Liverpool

It is not lengthy till foolish season begins, with that bizarre hinterland between the tip of the 2024/25 marketing campaign and the opening of the summer time switch window already affecting Liverpool.

Solely, the current rumours that Florian Wirtz is on Anfield’s radar as Arne Slot works with sporting director Richard Hughes to find out the perfect technique to strengthen his title-winning facet this summer time.

As soon as upon a time, such a signing would have certainly felt absurd for the Reds, however it is a new period on Merseyside and it is one to control, to make certain.

How a lot Wirtz could price Liverpool

Liverpool followers have been getting themselves acquainted with Wirtz this week. The Bayer Leverkusen star is being anticipated to go away this summer time, and, sure, he is on FSG’s watchlist.

The issue, naturally, is that Manchester Metropolis are additionally eager on signing the German playmaker up, with The Athletic even revealing on Wednesday that the Premier League behemoths have held talks with Wirtz’s representatives

Bayern Munich are nonetheless within the driving seat, however that is proving to be an open race, one which might finish with the 22-year-old at any of the locations.

Wirtz, who has plundered 31 aim contributions this 12 months after profitable final 12 months’s Bundesliga Participant of the Season as an invincible champion, would probably price Liverpool €150m (about £126m) to prise away from Leverkusen.

As with Alexander Isak, it might be silly to not have an alternate lined up; fortunately, FSG do at that.

Liverpool’s dream Wirtz different

Liverpool clearly fancy a brand new playmaking midfielder, and although Wirtz is the cream of the crop, Xavi Simons is not far behind him.

Simons has gone from energy to energy within the Bundesliga, not one of many pack at Paris Saint-Germain and as an alternative a “celebrity” who’s “destined for greatness,” as has been claimed by analyst Ben Mattinson.

The 22-year-old has been a key presence for RB Leipzig over the previous two seasons, scoring 20 objectives and laying on 23 extra assists over 70 appearances.

Again in March, it was revealed that Liverpool had been making ready a £67 bid for Simons, and whereas that did not materialise, the curiosity is real and he is obtained his sights on the Premier League. Final Slot would like to work along with his countryman, who would match proper into his midfield.

That is one thing of a Dutch revolution, in any case. Simons is destined for the Premier League, insofar as he needs to affix and has the ability set to flourish on English soil.

Like Wirtz, Simons is comfy throughout a wealth of attacking positions, maybe much more so. This season, he is flitted backwards and forwards from left wing and a extra central attacking place, efficient from each vantages.

So then, a younger and right-footed playmaker with a dynamic method. He ticks lots of the similar packing containers as Wirtz, and he holds his personal from a technical standpoint too.

Actually, there is not all that a lot to distinguish the 2 playmakers. Perhaps Wirtz pips Simons, however the Netherlands worldwide has obtained greater than sufficient to make an actual affect on Slot’s facet.

Certainly, provided that Leipzig could be in search of out a smaller fortune for his sale too, it is one thing of a no brainer given the dimensions of the rebuild that’s wanted this summer time.

In the event you wanted an additional illustration of the little magician’s potential, FBref have laid out much more of Simons’ spectacular knowledge from the 2024/25 marketing campaign.

It is proven that he ranks among the many prime 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for touches, the highest 6% for ball recoveries, the highest 12% for shot-creating actions, the highest 1% for by way of balls, the highest 12% for passes tried and the highest 13% for progressive passes per 90.

Shot-creating actions are items of play that result in a shot. These embody moments corresponding to a go, take-on or foul being drawn.

Actually, he is among the finest passers on the market. Provided that Simons has scored extra objectives than he is assisted this season, furthermore, there’s much more pleasure certain to be emanating from the Reds camp, whose pursuit of Wirtz might make them Simons, and it is arduous to counsel they’d be considerably worse off for it.

He is withheld from mentioning him till this level, however Trent Alexander-Arnold’s anticipated transfer to Actual Madrid calls for a brand new elite-level playmaker to bolster Slot’s squad.

With a deal for Jeremie Frimpong reportedly within the closing phases, Liverpool have moved swiftly to safe competitors for Conor Bradley. However neither full-back represents the one-of-a-kind artistic high quality of Trent.

Slot is definitely intelligent to be shifting the playmaking focus right into a extra typical quantity ten berth. Whether or not this gambit proves to be successful stays to be seen, but when Wirtz and Simons are the targets, it is arduous to envisage all that a lot going fallacious for the Premier League champions.

It is an thrilling time to be a Liverpool fan.