Liverpool plan critical bid to signal future big-money celebrity

Presently, it seems like Trent Alexander-Arnold’s determination to depart Liverpool on the finish of his contract final 12 months and signal for Actual Madrid has benefitted no one.

The Spanish giants have but to discover a starring position for the right-back in Xabi Alonso’s system; Trent is out within the chilly vis-à-vis Thomas Tuchel’s England; Liverpool keenly miss their starboy’s creativity and aptitude.

All of that is untimely. A lot can change, and it has solely been three months because the 2025/26 marketing campaign kicked off. However Arne Slot‘s Liverpool are missing concepts in the meanwhile; and simply as importantly, they can not discover the solutions to their opponents’ techniques.

Slot sought to reorient Liverpool’s artistic focus to a extra typical space, working with Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes to signal Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for what stood as a record-breaking £116m price for a couple of months.

Now, Liverpool are trying into new attacking midfielders to rival Wirtz for a spot within the Reds’ beginning line-up.

Why Liverpool need to signal Wirtz rival

Liverpool have landed a generational expertise in Wirtz. The 22-year-old proved throughout years of age-defying high quality in his homeland that he’s destined for greatness.

Nevertheless, we can’t deny it has been a rocky highway because the begin of the season.

Wirtz is but to register a aim involvement within the Premier League and he has not scored in any competitors. Nevertheless, his struggles stand in opposition to the backdrop of Liverpool’s wider points this season. Slot’s facet are worryingly imbalanced and sapped of confidence, having misplaced 5 of their previous six top-flight fixtures.

However Wirtz has demonstrated his ability for Germany through the present worldwide break, with analyst Raj Chohan saying his “artistic passing has been insane“.

However, with Harvey Elliott struggling out on mortgage with Aston Villa and certain to depart for good within the close to future, Liverpool have lined up 19-year-old midfielder Kees Smit as a possible rival for Wirtz in Slot’s system.

In keeping with Soccer Information, the AZ Alkmaar expertise is rising as a critical candidate for a switch to Liverpool, and FSG are additional drawn to the participant after Slot’s private advocacy, having labored with the younger prospect throughout his stint with AZ again in 2019/20.

{The teenager} is valued at round £22.5m, and Barcelona and Actual Madrid are among the many circling sharks.

What Kees Smit would provide Liverpool

Smit is younger and inexperienced, however the phrase on the Dutch streets is that he is likely one of the nation’s most enjoyable up-and-comers. Certainly, analyst Ben Mattinson has acknowledged Smit for his “celebrity potential”, not simply naturally gifted however clever, industrious and robust in defensive phases.

The Netherlands U21 star has made 50 senior showings already, scoring 4 targets and supplying six assists. More and more vital within the Eredivisie, he is began all 11 matches this time period, notching two targets and two assists apiece whereas finishing 88% of his passes, creating two possibilities on common every sport and recovering six balls a match.

He is so energetic, cellular and athletic whereas bearing the shrewdness to use himself within the right phases, by no means over-exerting. This can be a uncommon trait for one so younger, and emphasises the midfielder’s potential for achievement within the Premier League.

As per FBref, Smit ranks among the many high 14% of midfielders within the Dutch high flight this season for go completion and profitable take-ons, and the highest 8% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Ought to Wirtz be anxious for his beginning berth? Whereas all the above is true, getting into the cruel English footballing local weather is not any straightforward process. Wirtz would testify for that argument.

However Smit is much less of an out-and-out attacking midfielder than his older counterpart, and on this, he might be a glove-tight tactical match beneath Slot’s administration, instilling extra creativity whereas including to the metal and compactability of the engine room.

His extra balanced method differs from Wirtz’s personal. The brand new Merseyside recruit has confronted criticism for a perceived lack of physicality within the Premier League. Some pointed fingers concerning this matter have been unfair, however there is not any query that Wirtz must be extra energetic within the duel, extra combative when pitted in opposition to defenders.

The aforementioned Mattinson has singled Smit out as a “duel monster“, additional underlining his potential in Slot’s Liverpool set-up.

The Reds have choices in midfield, they usually have artistic gamers too. Nevertheless it would not take somebody with Slot’s football-tuned thoughts to conclude that one thing is not working for the Premier League champions, who must discover a means out of this current rut, else a regarding begin will devolve right into a disastrous marketing campaign with far-reaching ramifications.

If Liverpool achieve sealing Smit’s signature this winter, there’s each probability that the proper dimension could be added to ease the offensive points on the membership.

Who is aware of, maybe the competitors would assist Wirtz develop into his Liverpool pores and skin and start to indicate that capacity that was promised when Liverpool spent a staggering sum on bringing him over from Germany.

But when not, Smit has the potential to face proud as one of many world’s finest, and this might give Liverpool’s German maverick trigger for concern.