Jurgen Klopp has opened up about Florian Wirtz's potential while hinting at the challenges Arne Slot may face.
Jurgen Klopp has opened up about his thoughts on signing Florian Wirtz and whether he will live up to the £116m transfer fee.
Florian Wirtz joined the club on a five-year deal in June but was left out of the squad for their first pre-season game against Preston.
Liverpool claimed a 3-1 win at Deepdale, with other new signings making a debut for the Reds. They include Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Freddie Woodman.
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Jurgen Klopp Shares His Thoughts on Florian Wirtz
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Jurgen Klopp believes that the former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker will rise to the occasion when it matters, but raised a question about the position he will play.
“Yes (he will establish himself), although of course I don't know exactly which position Arne has in mind for Florian,” Jurgen Klopp said as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Florian Wirtz is most effective as a central attacking midfielder, a role he thrived in at Bayer Leverkusen, contributing 16 goals and 15 assists last season.
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However, according to the Daily Mail, Arne Slot may consider several other options at Liverpool, including deploying Wirtz as a false nine, creating space for wide players like Mohamed Salah, or even filling in on the left wing.
This will work particularly if Luis Diaz departs amid interest from Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Another possibility is a deeper role as a number eight in a midfield three, potentially pairing with Dominik Szoboszlai in advanced positions while Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister anchors as the number six.
Florian Wirtz's attacking threat is unquestionable, and Arne Slot will want to position him where he can cause the most damage.
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However, fitting him into the team setup poses a tactical puzzle. If Florian Wirtz operates as an attacking midfielder, it could require two more defensive-minded midfielders behind him, potentially limiting the freedom of players like Dominik Szoboszlai.
After Wirtz signed for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp was among the first people to congratulate him on the move, telling RTL/NTV: “This is going to be absolutely fantastic, I'm sure of it. It's very hard to strengthen a team when you're the champions. But Liverpool have managed it.
“They've signed an exceptional talent in Florian Wirtz. I'm looking forward to seeing it. It's going to be great.”
Now, the challenge remains for Arne Slot to know the best position to play Florian Wirtz as Liverpool chase more success next season.