Liverpool have an easy solution to major Florian Wirtz problem

News

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Florian Wirtz briefly became the most expensive player in Premier League history when he joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for a whopping €125 million last summer.

Over 12 months later, that investment is yet to reap any significant rewards and while the 23-year-old has almost been given a free-pass for his poor form, his performance against Bournemouth was mightily concerning.

Wirtz struggled immensely during the first period on Sunday afternoon and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher took aim at him during the half-time break.

Current ETV

Florian Wirtz

AM (C), M (CL)

Liverpool

Florian Wirtz

AM (C), M (CL)

Liverpool

€93.6M

ETV Range

€84.2M - €103M

View full profile

“That was really poor. He’s been really poor again,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “That’s three times for Wirtz, simple balls into him. I tried to say nothing on the first two, but he’s got to be better on simple passes, simple controls.

“It’s just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all. I know I’m seen as a big critic of Wirtz but I don’t think there’s been much criticism whatsoever if you think about what Liverpool spent on him and what they thought they were getting.”

In total, Wirtz has registered just nine goals and assists in 44 Premier League appearances since his arrival at Liverpool last summer, and the excuse of a ‘bedding-in period’ is now well and truly over.

It’s time for the €125m man to start delivering, but there have been no signs to suggest this is imminent.

Instead, Wirtz has continued to underwhelm during the early weeks of the 2026-27 campaign and while the arrival of Andoni Iraola as the Reds’ new head coach was expected to lead to an upturn in the German’s form, this simply hasn’t happened.

Liverpool’s midfield roster continues to be a major issue and despite his obvious talent, it’s finally time to stop giving Wirtz the benefit of the doubt. It may also be time for Liverpool to cut ties.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are reportedly tracking his situation ahead of a possible approach in 2027 and if Iraola’s side receive a suitable offer, the advisable choice would be to sanction a sale and reinvest the money into an attacking midfielder who is capable of delivering at the top-end of the Premier League.

Analysis: Why Liverpool should sign Josh King

While Wirtz is still yet to adapt to the rigours of English top flight football, the same can’t be said for Fulham starlet Josh King.

The 19-year-old broke into the senior set-up at Craven Cottage last season and he has cemented his place as an integral first-team player since the summer appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa.

King has been one of the most impressive performers during the early weeks of the new Premier League campaign and although Fulham have struggled, he has been a standout player, scoring two goals in five games to date.

Only Erling Haaland (10), Bukayo Saka (nine) and James Tavernier (eight) have registered more shots on target than King (seven) so far this season, while the England U21 international has the most touches in the opposition box of any player in the entire Premier League this term (37).

He is four ahead of Marcus Rashford in second, and that is despite the fact he plays as a No.10 rather than as a nominal forward. Wirtz, by comparison, has just 20.

King also passes the eye-test with flying colours. His energetic style is infectious, he boasts immense technical proficiency and despite being just 19 years old, he has seamlessly adjusted to the physical nature of first-team football.

Thomas Tuchel admitted that King was close to a senior England call-up for the September international break, following a brilliant start to the season, and it won’t be long before he is awarded his first cap if his current form continues.

The Fulham star currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of just over €18m, but that figure will skyrocket over the coming months as he racks up more senior experience, and Arbeloa’s side will unquestionably demand a huge fee to sanction a sale next summer.

However, based on over 12 months of evidence, King appears to be a superior player to Wirtz, at least in the Premier League, and given he is four years younger than the Germany international, Liverpool have an easy solution to their current transfer predicament: sell Wirtz back to the Bundesliga and use those funds to sign King.