Florian Wirtz's Arrival Could Shake Up Five Liverpool Stars' Futures
Liverpool are far from taking a break this summer transfer window. Following the quick replacement of Trent Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong, the Premier League title holders shattered their spending record by securing Florian Wirtz.
The German star, who has arguably been the most impressive player in the Bundesliga over the last two campaigns, broke several transfer milestones.
Considering Wirtz's quality and the enormous fee invested, the German attacking midfielder will need to deliver immediately, and Arne Slot might need to modify the tactical approach that delivered championship success last term to accommodate their marquee signing.
Due to Wirtz's instant significance, multiple existing Liverpool squad members will inevitably face consequences for different reasons. Here are five players who might be most worried or excited about the 22-year-old's arrival.
1. Dominik Szoboszlai
Just four players accumulated more playing time across all competitions for Liverpool last campaign than Dominik Szoboszlai (3,421 minutes), with the majority of the Hungarian's appearances coming in an attacking midfield role. Though Szoboszlai didn't function as a conventional playmaker, he served more as a box-to-box midfielder whose main duty was relentless running.
This doesn't diminish his contribution. He played a crucial role in Liverpool's championship triumph as the Reds frequently dominated opponents physically in midfield—primarily thanks to Szoboszlai.
Nevertheless, it's clear that Wirtz poses a direct challenge to Szoboszlai's starting position when Slot deploys a traditional striker. There's potential for both players to collaborate as dual false nines, similar to how Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones combined at the Etihad in February, but this strategy will probably be reserved for specific matches.
Maybe Slot aims to guide this Liverpool squad in a new direction despite achieving success last season. The Reds might focus more on technical excellence and sophistication rather than physical intensity.
2. Curtis Jones
England midfielder Curtis Jones was deployed at right-back by Thomas Tuchel during the June international fixtures, with the German coach instructing the Liverpool academy graduate to move centrally from his position to create a midfield partnership when in possession.
Without Alexander-Arnold available, Tuchel might have offered Slot an unconventional option, but it would require an emergency at that position for the Liverpool manager to consider adopting the German's approach.
Therefore, we must view Jones purely as a central midfielder going into the 2025-26 campaign. Last season, he featured inconsistently—starting approximately half of Liverpool's matches across all competitions. Slot typically preferred Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in deeper roles while Szoboszlai operated from an advanced position.
Jones possesses the ball-retention skills to excel in the deeper role, but some might doubt whether he has the creative flair or physicality to thrive in Szoboszlai's position. He's certainly a smart player with significant value, but Wirtz's signing could reduce his influence at Anfield unless he establishes his preferred midfield role.
3. Harvey Elliott
Following an impressive preseason, Harvey Elliott was positioned to develop into a key player during Slot's inaugural season in charge. The creative midfielder had shown promise in limited appearances under Jürgen Klopp and appeared ready to make a breakthrough.
Unfortunately, Elliott's development was severely hampered by a foot fracture suffered just one month into the 2024-25 campaign. Slot described the injury as a "major setback," and the young English player found it difficult to make an impact upon his return.
Elliott managed eight goal contributions across 28 appearances but only started six matches. As the summer transfer window begins, he's acknowledged the need "to evaluate" his Liverpool future amid concerns about potentially "squandering years."
Although Wirtz typically operates in different areas compared to the left-footed Elliott, his arrival will undoubtedly limit the Englishman's playing opportunities even more.
4. Mohamed Salah
Slot structured his initial Liverpool formation to maximize Mohamed Salah's effectiveness. The Egyptian was assigned minimal defensive duties and maintained an ideal position when his team regained possession.
This strategy carried risks, but Salah justified Slot's faith by delivering one of the greatest individual Premier League seasons ever. His phenomenal campaign concluded with an incredible 57 goal contributions across 52 matches.
Players like Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai essentially served as supporting cast members to optimize Salah's output, but circumstances will likely change with a new star player joining.
In Wirtz, Liverpool have obtained an exceptional operator who excels in central areas. He performs best from the left half-space, where he seeks to disrupt defensive formations through intelligent movement and skillful play in confined spaces. He offers something the Reds previously lacked, and there will be enhanced opportunities for Slot's team to break through and create chances centrally with Wirtz included.
Overall, there's certain to be reduced dependence on Salah provided the German makes an immediate impact. It won't be solely the Egyptian's responsibility anymore.
5. Darwin Núñez
Darwin Núñez's Liverpool future hangs in the balance following a disappointing campaign. The inconsistent Uruguayan striker managed only seven goals in 47 appearances, with Slot often preferring Díaz as a false nine or Diogo Jota as the main striker when fit.
Liverpool might attempt to offload Núñez this summer, but should he remain, the striker could benefit from Wirtz's presence. The German will value Núñez's eagerness to make runs behind the defense after receiving the ball in advanced positions, though the former Benfica player hasn't exactly lacked service at Anfield.
While Wirtz should provide reliable chance creation for the striker, his playmaking talents will be meaningless if Núñez's finishing problems persist. The 25-year-old failed to meet his expected goals for the third straight Premier League season in 2024-25.
If retained, this will certainly be Núñez's final opportunity on Merseyside. There's potential for him to forge an excellent partnership with Wirtz.