Frank Christian
As the 2024/25 season approaches, there were worries regarding Liverpool’s inactivity in the transfer market under new manager Arne Slot.
However, these concerns proved to be unfounded as Liverpool clinched the Premier League title with four matches to go. The club has no intentions of slowing down.
On May 24, transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri and David Ornstein from The Athletic revealed that Liverpool had taken the lead over Bayern Munich in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s star player Florian Wirtz.
If finalized at a rumored fee of £126 million (€150m/$170.6m), Wirtz would not only become Liverpool’s record signing but also the most expensive purchase in Premier League history, and the third-highest transfer ever in football.
This move signifies a bold step forward, especially after Wirtz’s teammate Jeremie Frimpong completed his medical with Liverpool earlier that week.
But how might the Premier League champions align their strategy with Wirtz onboard? Several configurations could be considered.
Potential Lineup for Liverpool with Florian Wirtz
Slot has multiple strategies to leverage Wirtz’s talents—assuming the transfer materializes, of course.
The Prime Number 10
The clearest role for Wirtz in the squad would be as a No. 10 in Slot’s favored 4-2-3-1 formation. This 22-year-old has established himself as a prolific attacking midfielder.
In this capacity, he would be an enhancement over Dominik Szoboszlai, whose six goals and six assists across 35 Premier League matches this season, while respectable, contributed to the significant scoring pressure on Mohamed Salah.
Nonetheless, Szoboszlai has proven critical for Slot in various other aspects. The Hungarian’s relentless work ethic makes him an immense asset defensively. Therefore, while a straight swap may seem logical, don’t be surprised if Slot opts for a different approach.
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Positioned on the Left
Wirtz’s impressive tenure at Leverkusen establishes him as one of the top No. 10s globally. However, in Xabi Alonso’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, he wasn’t confined to a central role. Wirtz often wreaked havoc operating in the wider channels.
It’s plausible to picture him taking on a left-wing position in Liverpool’s attack, while Szoboszlai remains central, becoming a dual goal threat alongside Salah. Given Slot’s inclination for attacking full-backs, Wirtz wouldn’t need to play as a traditional winger.
This shift might not sit well with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, though, and Slot could seek a way to keep the championship-winning players satisfied within the lineup.
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Dual False Nines
Slot’s ascent to the Premier League title has taken place without a dependable center-forward. Darwin Nunez has remained inconsistent and is reportedly set to leave, while Diogo Jota’s injury history raises concerns.
During Liverpool’s 2-0 victory against Manchester City in February, Slot effectively utilized a 4-2-2-2 formation, featuring Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as twin false nines. This setup proved successful and could work well with Wirtz joining the squad.
Positioning Gakpo on the left could provide more room for positional flexibility. This formation shows promising potential on paper.
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