Liverpool reignite interest in £100m Wirtz alternative

Florian Wirtz is the identify on everybody’s lips at Liverpool proper now, with FSG having taken the lead within the race to signal the Germany worldwide, who can be being courted by Bayern Munich.

That is in response to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who broke the information this night that the Bundesliga champions are frightened of Anfield, in actual fact rising resigned to the truth that the 22-year-old will be a part of Liverpool if he switches membership this summer season.

Manchester Metropolis had a robust curiosity in bringing him in, however have taken a step again on condition that Wirtz’s employers are believed to worth him within the ballpark of €150m (£126m).

Nevertheless, Spanish sources consider the Reds would want to money in on some current high quality with the intention to facilitate a transfer, and with Barcelona hoping to signal Luis Diaz, some differing cogs may fall into place.

Whereas Darwin Nunez can be anticipated to depart Anfield, Diaz, 28, has been one in every of Arne Slot’s most essential gamers, however ought to be bought this summer season nonetheless.

Why Liverpool ought to promote Luis Diaz

Diaz joined Liverpool from FC Porto in January 2022 for a price rising to £49m, ostensibly as Sadio Mane’s successor, for the Senegalese famous person left for Bayern Munich the next summer season.

He is ebbed and flowed, partly attributable to a crushing harm suffered throughout his first full season, however who can say Diaz hasn’t loved a particular season beneath Slot’s wing, prolific and dynamic in a Premier League-winning group?

Nevertheless, he is hardly irreplaceable, and coming into the penultimate 12 months of his contract in addition to. The Colombian has performed as a left winger and a makeshift centre-forward this 12 months, and Cody Gakpo holds down the fort on the flank and FSG are trying to find a brand new quantity 9.

If Barcelona are critical about their curiosity and prepared to pay a €80m (£68m) price, as has been steered in Spain, to drag Diaz from Merseyside, this could be one thing the membership ought to take into account, particularly as they’re trying to find new attacking cogs.

Although Wirtz is the dream, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes shall be hedging his bets till the second of reality, and certainly seems to have recognized another who might nonetheless show an improve on Diaz, one of many Premier League’s standout wingers.

Liverpool reignite curiosity in PL star

As per Soccer Insider, Liverpool are nonetheless concerned about signing Newcastle United ahead Anthony Gordon, practically one 12 months on from exploring a deal for the England worldwide because the Magpies sweated over PSR limitations.

Gordon, a boyhood Liverpool fan who was launched from the academy earlier than becoming a member of Everton aged 11, had knowledgeable his interior circle that he needed to make the transfer make to Merseyside, and although he is now signed a brand new long-term deal at St. James’ Park, would nonetheless be open to the switch.

After all, the fact can be way more strenuous for the Reds given the 24-year-old is valued at £100m by his aspect, who’re in a great place to qualify for the Champions League forward of the weekend’s culminating spherical of Premier League fixtures.

Why Anthony Gordon can be an improve on Diaz

Whether or not Liverpool would have the means to signal each Wirtz and Gordon after including full-backs on each side of the backline and with the continued want for a brand new striker stays to be seen. Nevertheless, it is unlikely all of this could occur.

As an alternative, Gordon might be signed as a contingency if issues do not fall into place relating to Wirtz, and the Newcastle man has sufficient high quality to nonetheless show an improve on the high-flying Diaz.

Gordon won’t have had fairly the identical 12 months because the 2023/24 marketing campaign, during which his talismanic performances helped Newcastle via harm woes, sealing a person accolade as United’s Participant of the Yr.

He hit 28 direct objective involvements, which is greater than Diaz has ever achieved in a single marketing campaign for Liverpool. Furthermore, Gordon is 4 years youthful than Anfield’s man, thus with loads of scope for development.

After all, this is not to say he hasn’t loved a great 12 months on Tyneside, scoring 9 objectives and including seven assists from 32 begins throughout all competitions.

He additionally ranks among the many prime 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the Premier League this season for profitable crosses made into the penalty space per 90, as per FBref, which is a weapon Liverpool might actually do with if they’re to signal a recognised focal frontman this summer season.

However his most attention-grabbing software, apart from some immense physicality and athleticism, the cornerstones of his ability set, is his fluidity, used throughout totally different attacking areas since leaving Everton for Newcastle in a £45m deal again in January 2023.

As you possibly can see, Gordon’s been ferried in regards to the frontline throughout his time in Eddie Howe’s system, although it is clear he is at his rip-roaring greatest when in his pure left-sided berth, with blistering pace and tough toes permitting him to get the higher of even the meanest defenders on the continent.

This can be a additional illustration of how he might substitute Diaz, whose wonderful season at Liverpool boils all the way down to his capacity to supply aid as a striker, thus permitting Gakpo to play off the wing.

Gordon’s price ticket is additional proof that he has what it takes to change into a famous person in pink. Not only a potent menace, the English winger averages one deal with and 4.4 profitable duels per recreation this season, bringing a tenacious angle that emphasises his dynamic underlying qualities.

He is additionally youthful now than Diaz was when he first signed for Liverpool (25 years previous). Whereas Liverpool’s chiefs can be cautious of spending £100m on an attacking participant who didn’t hit double figures in objectives or assists this season, Gordon’s expertise is unquestionable, having described himself as a “nightmare to play towards.”

If a deal for Wirtz falls via, that is the one to go for.