23 May 2024 , 18:30
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Arne Slot has been urged to make Florian Wirtz his first signing at Liverpool.
Slot has been appointed as the successor to Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, having previously led Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup. He will be tasked with taking the Reds to the next level, after they finished third in the Premier League this campaign.
Liverpool are expected to be busy in the transfer window, though it is unknown how much of a say Slot will have in recruitment. Former transfer chiefs Michael Edwards and Julian Ward have returned as owners FSG's chief executive of football and technical director respectively.
Richard Hughes has also been appointed as sporting director to lead on recruitment for the Reds. And Liverpool's new leadership have now been told to make a move for the Bayer Leverkusen star.
Wirtz has scored 18 goals and notched 20 assists to help Leverkusen win the Bundesliga as Invincibles, as well as reach the finals of the Europa League and DFB-Pokal. And former Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer believes he should be a top target for Liverpool this summer.
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"If I could urge Liverpool to sign anyone this summer it would be Florian Wirtz, who is a player that reminds me of Phillipe Coutinho. Liverpool fans love that type of player, Bobby Firmino was another player who was very popular, so I’d go with Wirtz," he told OLBG.
"I met Arne Slot when Slavia Prague played Feyenoord twice so I saw his work. His system and his mentality is all about being calm. He’s really good. His team knows exactly how he wants to play and I hope he can bring that to Liverpool.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Would Florian Wirtz be a good signing for Liverpool? Comment below.
Germany star Florian Wirtz has been lauded as a top target for Liverpool (Getty Images)"Of course, it won't be easy for anybody to replace Jurgen, but that's football. Steven Gerrard left Liverpool and now Jurgen is leaving Liverpool. That's football. We need to overcome these things as a club and I think Arne Slot could be the right man.
"He’s more reserved than Klopp and not as loud, but all coaches show different emotions. He will have a really good squad to work with and I can’t see any reason why he can’t continue the work he has done with Feyenoord."
Wirtz still has another three years to run on his contract, with the 21-year-old seen as a future superstar. And Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes is adamant Wirtz will be staying at the BayArena.
"He will stay. His father and agent said it before. He has a contract here and he's really happy. This is the right place for him to develop as a player and person. His future is bright that's for sure," he told Sky Sports News this week.
"He is such a good player and shows a great will to win and to work. It's not normally the attributes of a number 10 but he combines talent with the work rate of a six or a defensive player along with producing special magic moments."
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