Wirtz is entering a crucial season after an unimpressive debut with Liverpool, as he struggled to adapt and establish himself as a star in the Premier League during the 2025-2026 season. However, the issue extends beyond the career prospects of this nearly 160 million USD attacking midfielder at Liverpool; English football equally needs Wirtz to succeed, just as much as Andoni Iraola, the new coach at Anfield.

Florian Wirtz celebrates a goal during the Liverpool – Wolves match at Anfield, Liverpool, England on 27/12/2025. Photo: Reuters

We are in the midst of a crisis of losing superstars. If a talented playmaker like Wirtz fails, the trend of prioritizing physicality over technical skill, which became evident last season, will continue. This will damage the league's overall entertainment value. In the long run, it could have unforeseen negative impacts on the quality of foreign signings across English football if creative and spontaneous players lose interest in a league dominated by set pieces and long throw-ins.

Real Madrid and Barca consistently sit at the pinnacle of football. The most exceptional players always view Bernabeu and Camp Nou as their preferred destinations. Therefore, anyone who believed Vinicius Junior was seriously considering a move to Arsenal this summer was delusional.

English football once enjoyed a golden era, attracting world-class stars, largely due to clubs' financial power. They also came for the opportunity to work with top coaches, from Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, to Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. The Premier League's technical quality was once a unique selling point. But now, that may no longer be true.

When Liverpool signed Wirtz in the summer of 2025, it was a high-profile transfer. one of the world's most coveted young talents chose Anfield over Bayern's Allianz Arena. But in the current climate, will the next world-class star follow suit?

Wirtz's presence in England actually goes against the general trend, as recent movements of top stars must concern Premier League scouts. Evidence is clear when analyzing the destinations of attacking talents from the 4 major footballing nations.

The 4 World Cup semifinalists were England, France, Argentina, and champions Spain. Among the 14 attacking-minded players who started in the semifinals in the United States, only Morgan Rogers currently plays for a Premier League club. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Anthony Gordon have all left England.

Vinicius celebrates a goal during the Real Madrid – Atletico Madrid match at Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain on 22/3. Photo: Reuters

France's attack is completely dominated by Real's Kylian Mbappe, supported by Bayern's Michael Olise and a pair of wingers from PSG. Spain and Argentina did not feature any Premier League forwards in their starting lineups.

While Wirtz struggled to make an impact in the Premier League, Bayern thrived with Kane and Olise, former stars of the English league. They realized they could score and create goals in the Bundesliga with higher efficiency without exhausting themselves in the physically draining matches they once faced in England. Many forwards will observe Kane and Olise's success and compare it to Wirtz's form.

Would Liverpool's signing have been as underwhelming if he had moved to the Allianz Arena, or would he have been celebrated in his native Germany as one of Europe's most exciting talents?

The Premier League's status as a preferred destination over Bayern is under serious threat. If more players follow the England captain's path, English football will lose the opportunity to watch the world's best stars play week in and week out.

Wirtz's performances at the start of this new season will determine if he is considered a "right player, wrong time" signing for Liverpool. Moving to Merseyside just as set pieces became fashionable in the Premier League was clearly not an ideal environment. Whether Wirtz possesses the qualities to overcome the physical challenge remains an unanswered question. I must admit I have doubts.

When Wirtz joined Liverpool, Anfield fans hoped he would dictate games like Kevin De Bruyne did at Man City, meaning he could control matches at will with his vision and genius passes. However, the German midfielder lacks De Bruyne's physical foundation, acceleration, and shooting power. Analyzing Liverpool's midfield, many opposing coaches believe they can overpower and dominate the central area with sheer physicality.

Even at his best for Liverpool, Wirtz appears merely "neat and tidy," not the goal-scoring threat in and around the box expected given his price tag and reputation. The German international looks more like a 50 million USD squad rotation player than a game-changing superstar worth nearly 160 million USD.

Florian Wirtz during a Germany training session ahead of the World Cup 2026 in Herzogenaurach, Germany on 30/5. Photo: Reuters

Given Wirtz's modest contributions, Liverpool fans have been remarkably patient. Supporters often suggest foreign players need one year to adapt to English football. But looking at the most successful signings, that is an unfounded notion. Robert Pires's career at Arsenal is a common example, and De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah were denied opportunities at Chelsea when they first arrived in England. Generally, however, the best foreign players shine immediately.

After a dismal title defense campaign last season, Wirtz must succeed this season. Coach Iraola cannot risk a slow start, where the tactical challenges that haunted Arne Slot and led to his dismissal reappear. When evaluating Liverpool's squad, I am surprised to see that despite significant spending, the new coach faces more problems than clear solutions, many of which are identical to those from the same period last year.

After Iraola's Liverpool opened their season against Bournemouth last year, I voiced concerns that using Wirtz in a three-man midfield left the defense vulnerable, making Liverpool's matches resemble basketball-like scorelines.

Slot eventually conceded that Alexis Mac Allister or Dominik Szoboszlai had to play as an advanced pressing midfielder to restore balance, gradually pushing Wirtz to the left flank. Liverpool won the Premier League in 2025 with Szoboszlai in that position, and the Hungarian midfielder's physical foundation was so important that his new contract was understandable.

During this new preseason, Iraola has returned Wirtz to the number 10 role, and there are promising signs of his connection with Alexander Isak. However, defensive weaknesses remain unresolved. If Wirtz does not make the expected impact in the opening rounds, it is easy to imagine history repeating itself, with Iraola realizing he must sacrifice attacking flair for pragmatism.

Mohamed Salah celebrates a goal with Dominik Szoboszlai (behind) during the Liverpool – Galatasaray Champions League round of 16 match at Anfield, Liverpool, England on 18/3. Photo: Reuters

As Iraola builds a system with genuine wingers, this scenario raises serious doubts about Wirtz's future. The most likely positional change means the player will again have to drift left, as he does for the national team.

Meanwhile, instead of finding a replacement for right winger Salah, Liverpool spent the entire summer considering an additional 135 million USD for another left winger, PSG's Bradley Barcola, despite already having numerous options in that position. Rio Ngumoha, recently called up to "The Three Lions" for his impressive performances on the left wing, would find himself shifted to the opposite flank.

Given the consequences for the entire squad and the club's hope for an immediate resurgence after 12 stormy months, Wirtz simply must perform at the level of a top Liverpool star. Last year, he was given months to prove himself. This new season, he may only have weeks.

If Wirtz fails, Liverpool will face embarrassment for investing so heavily in a player they believed symbolized a golden future. Simultaneously, it will likely reinforce a trend: top attacking stars preferring Spain or Germany over the Premier League as the "promised land" for their talent.

Hoang Thong (according to Telegraph)