Gary Lineker debunks £116m Liverpool worry with five-word Florian Wirtz verdict
Florian Wirtz has experienced a slow start to his Liverpool career, but Gary Lineker has expressed confidence that the German midfielder will eventually shine at Anfield.
The Reds began their summer rebuilding by signing the highly rated German talent from Bayer Leverkusen in a record-breaking £116 million deal. Despite the excitement surrounding his arrival, Wirtz has yet to register a goal or an assist in the Premier League and was recently benched for the club’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
At just 22 years old, Wirtz is facing growing pressure, yet both Lineker and Micah Richards are convinced he will succeed in the long run. Lineker, the former Match of the Day host, described the midfielder as an “exceptional” talent with proven ability.
“At the moment he is not up to speed for the Premier League, but he spent £100m on him, but 100% it was the right decision that he made,”
said Richards on the Rest is Football podcast, supporting Liverpool’s investment in the young German.
“In terms of the money spent, they have spent a lot, but they have also lost a lot. I know we have talked about Trent (Alexander-Arnold) before and all that sort of thing; of course you are going to miss that calibre of player.”
Richards added that Liverpool are in the process of returning to the form they showed last season, maintaining belief that their project remains on track despite the current challenges.
Author’s Summary
Gary Lineker and Micah Richards defended Florian Wirtz’s slow start, stressing Liverpool’s record £116m investment in the German star will pay off as he adapts to the Premier League.