Wirtz is already one of the Bundesliga’s top performers at the age of 22, largely operating as a number 10, a dynamic playmaker blessed with pace, awareness and the ability to make clever decisions at high speed.
He was the most effective dribbler of all Bundesliga players last season, both in terms of volume and accuracy while carrying the ball.
Twenty-three of his 31 Bundesliga appearances in 2024-25 came in an attacking midfield/number 10 berth, although he does tend to drift towards the left wing.
«His best position, and the position that has been earmarked him for him in talks with Arne Slot, is that number 10 central role,» said Honigstein. «In a slightly reshuffled Liverpool, more Dutch and more Arne Slot team.
«He will be the fulcrum in attack. A player who can pick up spaces between the line, has an eye for the killer ball but never loses sight of the goal, he can score goals himself and is very tenacious. A very modern number 10 and a player a lot of clubs wanted.»
If Wirtz takes up a place in Arne Slot’s midfield, playing as a traditional 10, someone has to miss out, especially in the 4-2-3-1 formation used so effectively last season.
It’s unlikely to be Ryan Gravenberch given his rise into the anchoring role, which means Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister become vulnerable.
The two share similar stats, with Szobozslai creating more ‘big’ chances across the season, serving up more goals and assists, and Mac Allister being the more combative of the two.
He could provide an option on the flank, but Liverpool’s wide areas appear to be under lock and key. Mohamed Salah holds the right side, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo offer variety on the left.
«Salah will play where he plays and Szobozslai is the most interesting one, as that would be the obvious place for him to play from what we have seen in Germany,» said Liverpool fan and Anfield Wrap podcaster John Gibbons on BBC Radio 5 Live.
«But Slot loves Szobozslai, he does so much and helps Salah. You would imagine he will try and find a way to get both of them if he can.»
That alternative could see Wirtz, or Szobozslai, playing in the centre-forward role in a 4-3-3, more as a false nine — a system and formation often used by Slot’s former side Ajax, which sees the central striker dropping to receive passes and creating room for runs from elsewhere.
It was a style that Roberto Firmino built his legacy with, by dropping from forward positions into areas where he could link play, thus allowing the relentless Salah and Sadio Mane to prosper from wide berths.
The output of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez perhaps points to the central-attacking area being the one where Liverpool lack a man in form.
«Liverpool with number nines hasn’t worked,» added Gibbons. «This is an alternative, to instead play someone occupying that role but playing a bit deeper and allowing Salah and Diaz to fill that void.
«Paris-St-Germain impressed everyone playing that way. They did it with Ousmane Dembele up top, who is not really a striker, and they had flying full-backs.
«We have brought Frimpong in and it looks like Kerkez will be next, so maybe he’s looking at PSG and modelling on that.»
Pick your Liverpool XI for next season below. We have included both Wirtz and Kerkez in the available squad, with both set to be at Anfield next season.
