Could Liverpool Sell £116m Florian Wirtz Amid Premier League Struggles?

Wirtz arrived on Merseyside from Bayer Leverkusen billed as a generational talent following a Bundesliga title-winning campaign. However, a difficult transition into English football saw him manage just seven goals and seven assists during the 2025-26 season as Liverpool struggled to find consistent form.

Hamann, speaking in an association with Betinia NJ as reported by Goal.com, outlined the mounting pressure on the German international as the 2026-27 campaign begins. The former Champions League winner emphasized that the club cannot afford an indefinite waiting period for a player signed for a record-breaking deal.

He’s got to start playing well. He has to start influencing the game.

Didi Hamann

Hamann analyzed the tactical imbalance in Wirtz’s current role, noting that the playmaker often drops deep to win back possession because he wants to help the collective cause. According to Hamann, this defensive shift detracts from his primary attacking responsibilities.

I think he’s a player who floats. Perhaps he lacks the standing among his teammates to occasionally be excused from defensive duties, since you naturally need to grant certain privileges and total freedom to a star when teammates are actively recovering possession on his behalf. And the rest of the squad is willing to put in that hard work as long as whenever he receives possession across ten occasions, six, seven, or eight times something productive actually materializes. That’s just not the case.

Didi Hamann

The physical demands of English football have frequently stymied high-profile imports, with Hamann drawing comparisons to past marquee arrivals like Juan Sebastian Veron, whose stint at Manchester United lasted only a single season before returning to Italy. Wirtz was substituted after 60 minutes in Liverpool’s opening fixture of the current season, highlighting ongoing concerns over his match impact.

Timeline for Potential Exit Discussions

With expectations remaining exceptionally high, Hamann suggested that exit rumors and internal discussions regarding the wisdom of the massive investment will surface rapidly if performances do not improve before the upcoming international break.

I think if he fails to make an impact on matches over the upcoming three to four weeks, by the arrival of that extended international break this year, we will likely witness endless media speculation and debates concerning whether the club should have signed him—though it is obviously too late now since he is already here. And maybe him thinking, ‘well, maybe this is not for me’.

Didi Hamann

Hamann added that a club of Liverpool’s stature cannot simply write off a player of that magnitude, noting that solutions might need to be considered as early as the winter transfer window if the situation remains static.

Positional Debate and Tactical Fit

The ongoing debate over Wirtz’s best position further complicates his integration on Merseyside. Observers and analysts remain divided on whether the German is best utilized as a traditional central playmaking number ten or deployed as a wide forward on the left flank who drifts inside to create scoring opportunities.

While internal reports from training continue to praise his technical ability, converting that practice form into decisive Premier League output remains the primary hurdle for Wirtz as he navigates his second season in England.