Oliver Bierhoff has suggested that struggling 23-year-old Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz should join Liverpool for a turnaround in his career.
In an interview with Sport BILD, Oliver Bierhoff suggested that Barcelona would be the perfect club for Florian Wirtz to turn things around after his struggles at Liverpool. The 58-year-old claimed that the former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker would have “brilliant” teammates if he joined the Blaugrana.
Bierhoff said, “I would see him as a very good fit with Hansi Flick at Barcelona. There he would find the space and brilliant team-mates in footballing terms.”
Florian Wirtz and his Liverpool limbo
Florian Wirtz has hit a brick wall since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a then-record move last year. The 23-year-old arrived with lofty expectations after taking being one of the best players in the Bundesliga during his stint with Leverkusen. However, he has not produced similarly game-defining performances for Liverpool, and his overall record of seven goals and 11 assists in 55 appearances is underwhelming.
The German international has also struggled to make his mark this term, having managed only one assist in six outings thus far. Despite failing to be a match-winner for Liverpool, Wirtz has remained in demand, with recent reports linking him with several high-profile clubs.
La Liga move on the horizon?
Florian Wirtz has been on Barcelona’s radar for a long time, though they are no longer reportedly interested in an imminent move. The reigning La Liga champions do not need a player like the Liverpool playmaker either, considering Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez provide similar value in the advanced areas.
While Olmo does the controlling job expertly with accurate passing and line-breaking moves, Lopez has a well-rounded style that contributes with goals and assists and takes the burden off Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. So, unless one of them leaves, Barcelona will not need to pursue Wirtz, particularly considering the 23-year-old is reportedly unlikely to leave Liverpool for a cost-effective fee, despite his struggles.
As iterated earlier, Wirtz has commanded popularity in the market, with recent reports linking him with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. With Barcelona yet to show interest in him, those three prospective suitors will hope to hand the German international an escape route from Liverpool.
