Liverpool Pushing Hard to Sign a “Superstar in the Making” Who’d Be Their New Mane
It might seem as though the summer transfer window is already in full swing for Liverpool fans, but that’s not the reality. Instead, FSG are taking a careful and calculated approach to reinforce Arne Slot’s Premier League champions.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to make his final appearance as a Liverpool player on Sunday in the season’s final fixture against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. However, sporting director Richard Hughes has already finalised a deal for his replacement.
Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen is set to join the Merseysiders next season. Additionally, talks with Bournemouth’s left-back Milos Kerkez are progressing, with negotiations reportedly at an advanced stage.
Liverpool are also in need of added strength in attack. Although Mohamed Salah has delivered a phenomenal individual campaign, he has at times lacked consistent support from his teammates.
Having recently signed a two-year contract extension, the Egyptian King requires the addition of a top-class forward, someone who could potentially become his new Sadio Mane.
It appears FSG may have identified the ideal candidate to fill that role.
Liverpool Pushing to Seal Marquee Signing
As reported by Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail, Liverpool’s determined pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz remains fully alive, with FSG making every effort to bring the 22-year-old midfielder into Arne Slot’s plans.
The Merseysiders have found themselves in a fierce transfer contest with Bayern Munich for Wirtz’s signature. Their confidence has grown recently following Manchester City’s withdrawal from the race, although Die Roten are still seen as the frontrunners.
Liverpool are prepared to go to great lengths to secure a deal for Wirtz, who is widely regarded as the face of German football. Yet, with the Bundesliga title-holders equally committed to signing the playmaker, the road ahead is expected to be challenging.
Despite the Germany international carrying a hefty €150 million valuation—approximately £126 million—FSG are reportedly ready to authorise a record-breaking deal for the club.
And there’s a clear reason behind that level of ambition.
Why Wirtz Could Be Slot’s New “Superstar”
Some may wonder why Liverpool aren’t directing a similar level of investment towards Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak. However, if the Magpies manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League, the Swedish forward is unlikely to be available for transfer.
Moreover, with Alexander-Arnold expected to leave and take his exceptional creative influence with him, Liverpool must identify a new player to take on the role of primary playmaker.
That responsibility could fall to Wirtz, who, at just 22 years old, has already bounced back from a serious ACL injury to achieve an unbeaten domestic double, claim the Bundesliga Player of the Year award, and earn high praise from former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, who labelled him “the best midfielder in the world.”
| Florian Wirtz – Career Stats by Position (club & country) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Attacking midfield | 169 | 48 | 57 |
| Left winger | 21 | 4 | 5 |
| Right winger | 17 | 8 | 5 |
| Centre-forward | 15 | 7 | 7 |
| Central midfield | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Data Source: Transfermarkt | |||
There’s no doubt about it—he’s the real deal. In just 197 senior appearances for his current club, the 5-foot-9 midfielder has netted 57 goals and registered 65 assists, delivering a level of consistency in the final third that neither Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, nor Dominik Szoboszlai have been able to match with the same frequency as Mohamed Salah.
Or even Sadio Mané, for that matter. One could argue that Wirtz has the potential to become Arne Slot’s version of the Senegalese icon, whose “world-class” attacking prowess—as praised by Jürgen Klopp—has yet to be truly replicated by any of Liverpool’s more recent recruits.
Mané arrived at Anfield in 2015 from Southampton in a £34 million deal. He dedicated the peak of his career to the club, becoming a legendary figure whose contributions were key in delivering both Premier League and Champions League glory.
Though most effective on the left wing, Mané displayed great positional versatility. His explosive energy often overwhelmed defenders, carving out the space he needed to strike.
Wirtz, on the other hand, tends to operate more centrally, though his heatmap from the 2024/25 Bundesliga season shows he frequently drifts toward the left side. That positional freedom could add a fresh tactical dimension to Slot’s system.
The midfielder’s numbers this season are equally impressive. He has missed only eight big chances across Leverkusen’s domestic and European campaigns, scored 16 goals, and created 21 big chances—an indication of the top-tier creative influence he could bring to Liverpool as they evolve beyond the Alexander-Arnold era.
According to FBref, Wirtz ranks in the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal contributions. He also sits in the top 7% for both shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and in the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90 minutes.
Wirtz’s tireless ability to carry the ball forward is truly striking—an attribute that draws comparisons to Mané. His flair, quick footwork, and lethal presence in attacking build-ups make him a standout talent.
Just weeks ago, ESPN journalist Rob Palmer described Wirtz as a “superstar in the making.” At this point, though, he might already be performing at a world-class level.
For Liverpool, this is the moment to act—securing Wirtz could give Salah the ideal attacking partner needed to chase more trophies in the seasons ahead.
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