Jame Redknapp has made a bold claim about Liverpool summer signing which might come as a surprise based on his initial start at Liverpool.
Every pundit who covers the Premier League has been eager to have their say on Florian Wirtz. Wayne Rooney accused Wirtz of damaging the balance at Liverpool, whilst claiming he would start Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of the German midfielder.
Jamie Carragher was equally critical of Wirtz, declaring that he needed to come out of the team due to his early performances in a Liverpool shirt.
However, there are those who have chosen to back the 22-year-old amidst his early struggles to adapt to English football.
Jurgen Klopp called Wirtz a once-in-a-century talent and he was not alone in his praise. Bruce Grobbelaar also defended Wirtz, exclaiming that he has grown since the beginning of the season.
As well as these, Vladimir Smicer has given Wirtz his backing. The former Liverpool attacking midfielder expected more from the £116m summer signing, but he is still confident Wirtz will come good under Arne Slot.
Jamie Redknapp has become the latest ex-Red to offer the former Bayer Leverkusen man his support. The pundit even suggested Wirtz could fulfil a similar role at Liverpool to the one Luka Modric did so well when he played for Real Madrid.
He told Sky Sports: “I’m not sure if he is going to be that person that will always be sliding balls through, he might be at times like a Luka Modric.
“Now Luka Modric, if you judged him purely on goals and assists, you’d maybe think he wouldn’t be the player we all talk about, but he would be the player that would make the pass that makes the pass. Now that might be Florian Wirtz.”
Despite Redknapp’s remarks, Wirtz actually has a very good goal contributions record. He bagged 10 goals and 14 assists in the Bundesliga last season and an additional six goals and an assist in the Champions League too.
The 23-year-old is yet to receive any goal contributions at Liverpool, except for an assist during the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.
However, there is still time for him to change his fortunes and become a greater threat in attack. At £116m, Slot will certainly be wanting more than what he has shown up to this point.
Wirtz played fewer than 30 minutes during Liverpool’s most recent match against Manchester United and he will be hoping to be given a chance in the Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday
The midfielder enjoyed the league phase last season and will be eager to help his team bounce back after a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray last time out.
