Florian Wirtz has been backed for a shock move to Chelsea, while Bradley Barcola has been told he is worth only half his £123m price tag, as Liverpool's big-money signings face fresh scrutiny.
Matthaus backs Wirtz for Chelsea switch
German legend Lothar Matthaus has supported the idea that Florian Wirtz could make sense as a signing for Chelsea if he were to leave Anfield. The 1990 World Cup champion specifically noted his relationship with former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as a big factor in the potential move.
It is no secret that £116m signing Wirtz has failed to prove his value on Merseyside since joining more than a year ago. With suitors likely to be few and far between at present, Matthaus touted Stamford Bridge as a possible destination where Wirtz could shine again.
"I've recently been impressed by Florian Wirtz when he plays for the German national team," he said, per Bulinews. "His team-mates look to find him on the ball there, just as they used to at Leverkusen. At Liverpool, however, the players tend to look for other options, such as [Dominik] Szoboszlai alongside him or Isak ahead of him."
"According to my latest information from England, people have generally been satisfied with his performances recently. However, when you are an expensive, game-changing player and lose a big match 3–0, you can expect plenty of backlash from the media," he added.
Bayern ruled out as Chelsea touted
Matthaus went on to say Bayern Munich, the only German club who could realistically afford him, has no room to accommodate him at present. That led the 1990 Ballon d'Or winner to expand upon potential destinations, highlighting his past connection to Alonso as a major reason Chelsea could be in that conversation.
"If Wirtz continues to face criticism at Liverpool and fails to show the joy and freedom in his game that we know he has, then at some point all parties will have to sit down together and perhaps find a solution," he added.
"There are clubs in Spain that would be interested, as well as another club in England: Chelsea, where Wirtz's former coach Xabi Alonso is now in charge."
Chelsea have no shortage of competition in attacking midfield themselves, with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers frequently used in that role. However, Matthaus doesn't see those presences being a hindrance to Liverpool's under-fire star.
Petit slams Barcola fee
Another World Cup winner, Emmanuel Petit, didn't hold back in judging Bradley Barcola as overpriced following his £123m move to Anfield. The Reds finally got their star signing after weeks of negotiations with PSG over the summer but are yet to see much return on that investment.
Barcola, 23, hasn't recorded a goal or assist in 336 minutes of game time for the Reds. It mirrors the same trend of players costing nine-figure sums at Anfield yet struggling to deliver, just like Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Speaking to talkSPORT this week, Petit said: "£120m, I never would [have] put that price tag on the table. We all know that in France.
"We know he is a quality player. We know he [can] be sometimes great...He was good, most of the time, with Paris because of the whole team behind him."
When pressed by host Jim White on whether Liverpool paid "way over the odds" for their marquee summer signing, Petit responded: "Oh, yeah, definitely.
"I will probably spend £60m, £70m maximum. That's my opinion. It's becoming common now that English clubs are spending so much money on overrated players."
