Liverpool made a gigantic statement of intent last summer when they splashed out a club-record fee, at the time, of £116m to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Germany international had just scored 16 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions for Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side during the 2024/25 campaign.
Unfortunately, Wirtz endured a tough start to life at Anfield. The attacking midfielder failed to register a goal or an assist in his first 15 matches in the league.
However, the 22-year-old star has scored four goals and provided two assists in his last 12 appearances in the Premier League, averaging a goal contribution every other game.
The German playmaker, who has three assists in nine Champions League outings, is finally starting to show why the Reds were willing to pay so much money for his services last summer.
Liverpool in talks to sign LaLiga playmaker
Wirtz, at 22, still has plenty of time left ahead of himself to develop and improve as a player, which is why his slow start to life at Anfield was never overly concerning.
It is not a surprise to see a young player struggle at first after joining a new league in a new country, as development is not always linear, and Liverpool are now starting to reap the rewards of their patience with him.
Head coach Arne Slot is now reportedly looking at another young talent who could arrive at Anfield as the next Wirtz ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Real Madrid attacking midfielder Arda Guler in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that FSG have been in regular contact with both the player’s representatives and Real Madrid over a potential deal for the forward, because they have held a long-term interest in his services.
It adds, though, that fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and Chelsea are also preparing moves to sign the Turkey international to bolster their respective attacks.
TEAMtalk claims that Real Madrid’s expected signing of Nico Paz this summer could open the door for Guler to leave, which would provide Liverpool with a chance to secure a long-term target.
Why Arda Guler would be Liverpool’s next Florian Wirtz
As Wirtz did, Guler would arrive at Anfield as a player who has no experience of playing in England or in the Premier League and could need time to adapt to the division.
The physicality of the league could cause problems, as it has for Wirtz, because the Turkish star has lost 69% of his aerial duels, winning 0.1 per game, in LaLiga.
However, Guler’s technical quality could shine through eventually, as it has done with the German ace, and that is when he could emerge as a top-quality signing for the Reds, if they can get a deal done with Real this summer.
Since the start of last season, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has scored ten goals and provided 23 assists in all competitions for Real Madrid, including 13 assists in 45 appearances this term.
Guler, who was once described as the “best CM/AM prospect in world football” by podcaster Neal Gardner, is a fantastic young playmaker who could add some genuine creative quality to Slot’s squad.
|
Most assists in 25/26 LaLiga |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Assists |
|
Lamine Yamal |
9 |
|
Luis Milla |
9 |
|
Arda Guler |
8 |
|
Fermin Lopez |
8 |
|
Pedri |
7 |
Only Luis Milla and Lamine Yamal have provided more assists in the Spanish top-flight than the Real Madrid talent so far this season, whilst only Yamal (22) has created more ‘big chances’ than Guler (13).
The Turkish sensation is averaging 2.2 key passes per game for Los Blancos, more than any Liverpool player is averaging in the Premier League, and could create high-quality chances for his teammates on a regular basis at Anfield.
Guler, like Wirtz, is also a versatile player who can be used in a multitude of ways. He can play as an attacking midfielder, as a central midfielder, on the left wing, or on the right flank, cutting in on his favoured left foot.
This means that Slot would be able to play both Guler and Wirtz in the same XI, possibly with one playing on the wing and the other in midfield, which could create a team that is full of creativity for the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.
That is why the Reds should push to win the race to sign Guler ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal if he becomes available in the upcoming summer window.
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