Liverpool manager Arne Slot has urged for patience regarding midfielder Florian Wirtz, who has faced criticism for failing to register a goal or assist in his first seven Premier League appearances. The German international arrived at Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen in June for an initial £100 million, potentially rising to £116 million with bonuses. This made him briefly the most expensive player in British football.
Despite a high transfer fee and significant expectations, the 22-year-old has struggled to replicate the form that saw him score 57 goals and provide 65 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen. Slot believes it's normal for a young player to need time to adjust to a new league and country. "It's quite normal that you have to adjust to going to another country let alone going to the Premier League," Slot told Sky Sports.
Slot highlighted Wirtz's "unlucky" start, suggesting that the midfielder could already have "six or seven assists" if his teammates had converted the chances he created. He also pointed out the difficulty of Liverpool's opening fixtures against teams with strong records, such as Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal and Burnley.
The Liverpool boss drew comparisons between Wirtz's situation and that of Kevin De Bruyne, who initially struggled at Chelsea before becoming one of the Premier League's best midfielders at Manchester City. "Maybe I’m now underestimating the best midfielder who has ever played in the Premier League, Kevin De Bruyne, he was 21 or 22 when he went to Chelsea," Slot said. "Give him (Wirtz) a bit of time, I would say. I'm definitely going to give him a bit of time and in the meantime, he's been unlucky".
Some figures in the footballing world have also voiced their support for Wirtz. German national team director Rudi Voller stated that Wirtz has a great character and will give everything from the first to the last minute. Bastian Schweinsteiger also urged for patience, emphasizing that players need time to adapt.
However, not everyone shares Slot's optimism. Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit expressed doubts about Wirtz's transfer fee, suggesting the Premier League's tactical differences compared to the Bundesliga may pose a challenge. "The Premier League is a different challenge to the Bundesliga," Petit said. "Leverkusen often counter-attacked, giving him space to perform. Liverpool dominate opponents, so the tactics are different".
Amidst Wirtz's struggles, rumors have emerged linking him with a move away from Liverpool, with Real Madrid reportedly interested. According to Defensa Central, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who previously coached Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen, has asked the club to monitor the player's situation. The report suggests that Wirtz might welcome a move if his underperformance continues.
Wirtz himself has acknowledged the pressure but remains confident in his ability to succeed at Liverpool. "He's adjusting, in my opinion, very well. It gets better and better every single game," Slot said last month. "He always wants to have the ball, even if he has a few moments where we feel like he could do better. He just always wants to keep the ball, always keeps on trying. And he gets better and better, and fitter and fitter. That's maybe the thing that matters most, because we don't have to teach him how to play football".
As Liverpool prepares to face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, all eyes will be on Wirtz to see if he can begin to justify his price tag and silence the critics.
