Merseyside Insider updates on Liverpool’s ‘knee-jerk’ Florian Wirtz decision
Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz is not at any risk of being sold within the next 12 months.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that it is still too early for the Reds to make a “knee-jerk” reaction regarding the German’s future.
Wirtz’s recent performances for the Anfield outfit have come under scrutiny once again, as he has managed just one assist in the opening five Premier League games.
Wyness explained that Liverpool are still “amortising” their £116million to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, and won’t consider a sale any time soon as a result.
The 23-year-old broke the Merseysiders’ transfer record when he arrived from the Bundesliga, but his form has been far below expectations so far.
Wirtz managed just eight goal involvements in the Premier League last term, despite starting in 27 games and playing almost 2400 minutes of league football.
Florian Wirtz not alone in adaptation struggles
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – made it clear that Wirtz will not be the first or last German player to struggle to adapt to English football.
Nick Woltemade endured similar struggles after moving from the Bundesliga to Newcastle last summer, and now finds himself out on loan at Juventus.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how he just doesn't see a sale of Wirtz being on Liverpool's radar at all.
"You look at Wirtz; the situation is that he won't be the first German player to come into the Premier League who needs a period of time to adapt," he said.
"I know that this start hasn't been great, but really it's form that you're looking at not a complete verdict on the player at all. So I think it's a little bit early to be doing that.
"There's still another £90m worth of amortisation to go through. There's no way Liverpool are looking to get rid of him. There'll be further time to settle in, and he will do, I'm sure, as we go forward.
"I think it would be a knee-jerk reaction, and I would take any exit suggestions with a pinch of salt."
Will Wirtz push to leave Liverpool?
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider earlier this week that Wirtz would be hugely interested in the chance to move to Bayern Munich.
The German champions are long-term admirers of the youngster, and could be prepared to launch a fresh move for him in January.
Brown believes that Bayern are a far better fit for Wirtz's style than Liverpool, and outlined that the player may already feel like the time is right for him to return home.
Liverpool had huge expectations for Wirtz when he first arrived on Merseysiders, but he simply hasn't lived up to them so far.