Liverpool's record signing Florian Wirtz is receiving backing from an unlikely source despite his concerning start to life at Anfield. Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has thrown his support behind the struggling German international, insisting the 22-year-old will eventually prove his worth.
A Difficult Start for the Big Money Signing
Since his £116 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in June, Wirtz has failed to find the net in his 16 appearances for Arne Slot's side. While the attacking midfielder has registered three assists across Champions League and FA Cup competitions, his overall performances have been inconsistent.
This patchy form has seen Wirtz regularly rotated with Cody Gakpo in Liverpool's starting line-up, raising questions about his ability to adapt to the Premier League's demands. The significant transfer fee has inevitably increased scrutiny on the young German's every move.
Confidence from an Unlikely Source
In a surprising show of cross-club support, Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has expressed firm belief in Wirtz's potential. Speaking to Stake, Aguero addressed the player's adaptation period directly.
"It's hard to give advice," Aguero stated. "Players have different personalities and their adaptation times vary. Some adapt quickly and others need more time. But I have no doubt he will settle. Great players - and Wirtz is one - sooner or later settle and become vital in their teams."
This endorsement comes at a crucial time for Wirtz, whose confidence may understandably be wavering given his goal drought and rotation in the squad.
January Loan Rumours and Growing Concerns
The situation has become sufficiently concerning that former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has suggested a January loan move might benefit the young German.
"Could Florian Wirtz still leave Liverpool on loan in January? Yeah," Hamann commented. "Obviously with all the help and all the protection from the club and the manager, if you bring somebody in for that amount of money, then maybe he should be the one, even though he's still very young, then maybe you expect him to turn things around."
Hamann expressed deeper concerns about Wirtz's body language and apparent struggle with the Premier League's physicality and pace. "When I watch him sometimes, you know, thinking, has he lost belief because it is in the Premier League? Sometimes when I watch him when he loses possession, I'm thinking maybe it's because it's a lot quicker, a lot more physical, as if he were to say; 'I'm not sure that's for me'."
The former Germany international added his concern that "if it's going on for too long, you know, it's very hard to turn it around," highlighting the importance of the coming months for Wirtz's Liverpool career.
Salah's Struggles Also Addressed
Aguero also weighed in on Mohamed Salah's current form, with the Egyptian scoring just five times in 18 appearances this campaign. The Argentine legend urged patience with the prolific forward.
"Never doubt a great goal-scorer," Aguero continued. "Salah has a great scoring average and I'm sure he'll get back to his rhythm. I think he was affected by his team not having the best start. And a player can't do everything alone."
This dual assessment from Aguero paints a picture of a Liverpool side experiencing transitional growing pains, with both new and established stars working to find their best form.
The coming months will prove crucial for Wirtz as he looks to justify his substantial price tag and silence the growing doubts about his adaptation to English football. With the January transfer window approaching, Liverpool's management faces important decisions regarding their record signing's immediate future.
