Could Liverpool Let Go of £116m Florian Wirtz? Former Midfielder Discusses Transfer Timing Amid Premier League Struggles
Florian Wirtz briefly held the title of the most expensive British football signing after joining Liverpool for £116 million ($157m) in 2025. At just 23, the German playmaker has yet to deliver his best performances in the Premier League. Dietmar Hamann, a former Reds midfielder and fellow German, shared with GOAL when talk about a potential transfer might arise.
Wirtz’s Goal Contributions at Liverpool
When Wirtz left Germany, he was seen as a generational talent. A Bundesliga champion with Bayer Leverkusen, expectations were high that his creative skills would shake up English football. Yet, his start at Liverpool was slow as the team struggled early in the 2025-26 season. He finished with seven goals and seven assists, numbers below what many anticipated, sparking questions about his overall impact.
When Liverpool Might Consider Offers
Despite Liverpool's significant investment, patience is limited. With Wirtz still searching for form early in 2026-27, the club may only give him two seasons to prove himself. Hamann, speaking alongside Betinia NJ, explained what needs to happen for Wirtz to secure his future on Merseyside:
“He needs to start performing well and influencing games. Currently, he seems to float on the pitch and might lack respect from teammates, which sometimes leads to him not defending enough. For him to get freedom, others need to win the ball back for him, but that trust isn’t there because he hasn’t consistently delivered when in possession.”
“He’s working hard defensively but maybe too much, trying to help his team. His game balance is off. His role isn’t to win balls but to create and score goals. There were a few good games last season, but that’s not enough.”
“The Premier League is physical, and some great players have struggled to adapt, like Juan Sebastian Veron. I thought Wirtz was too good to fail early on, but past Christmas, doubts grew. If he doesn’t start influencing matches in the next few weeks, talk will intensify around whether Liverpool made the right call, and perhaps Wirtz himself might question if this league suits him.”
Hamann hinted that winter could bring change if improvements don’t come.
Best Position for Wirtz: No.10 or Wide Forward?
The debate continues over Wirtz’s ideal spot on the field. Is he a true playmaking No.10, or would he thrive more as a left-sided forward cutting inside? Hamann weighed in:
“People praise his training performances, but by last year’s Christmas, someone should’ve told him, ‘Either you step up now or we reassess after the World Cup.’ Liverpool can’t wait forever.”
“He was signed to be the main man. It’s not just about playing him on the left. If a No.10 isn’t creating chances or scoring enough, others must take the role—especially with Bradley Barcola arriving. England presents tricky situations for players like him.”
Liverpool’s Current Season and Wirtz’s Contract
Wirtz is contracted to Liverpool until 2030 but must boost his goal contributions quickly to justify those terms. Under new Spanish manager Andoni Iraola, the Reds started the 2026-27 campaign with draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, collecting two points from two games. Their next match is against newly promoted Ipswich Town on Friday.
- Upcoming Fixture: Ipswich Town vs Liverpool, 4 September 2026, 21:00
