Liverpool fans got a taste of their new signings in action across the past week, with pre-season friendlies carried out against Preston North End and Stoke City, the latter in a behind-closed-doors setting.
It was that 5-0 romp, however, that highlighted just how incredible a talent Florian Wirtz is, the playmaker all tricks and flicks and winged feet as he dictated play and showcased his astounding technical ability.
Signed from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m fee which could stretch to a British-record £116m, the German, 22, has added so much talent and dynamism to Arne Slot’s dangerous frontline.
However, with Luis Diaz potentially off to Bayern Munich, Liverpool may need to bring in yet another attacking addition.
The latest on liverpool’s search for forwards
With Hugo Ekitike set to leave Eintracht Frankfurt and sign for Liverpool in a deal worth £79m, sporting director Richard Hughes has solved one of Slot’s biggest problems.
However, Diaz’s suspected sale to Bayern Munich, who are ready to return with a second offer, has opened the gates for a successor to come in.
A host of names have been bandied around, but the most ambitious has got to belong to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with transfer insider Graeme Bailey revealing that talks have been held between Liverpool and the player’s camp as they weigh up a marquee move.
Rodrygo, 24, is one of the world’s finest forwards, but he’s no longer all-important at Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso open to his sale this summer.
In any case, the Brazilian forward won’t come cheap, with figures as high as £87m floating about.
What Rodrygo would bring to Liverpool
In 2024/25, Rodrygo didn’t suffer a poor season by any stretch, but there’s no question he left something to be desired, going 12 La Liga matches without a goal or an assist across the second half of the season.
Blame can in large part be apportioned to his consistent placement out on the right wing. The right-footed Rodrygo’s favoured position is on the left, where his goalscoring ability is best served.
Far more clinical on the left, the Los Blancos superstar
|
Rodrygo – Real Madrid Stats by Position (24/25) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Right winger |
31 |
8 |
5 |
|
Left winger |
12 |
6 |
6 |
|
Centre-forward |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|||
In this way, he could emulate a former Liverpool great in Sadio Mane, who joined the club from Southampton for £34m in 2015 and went on to become one of the deadliest left-sided forwards of his generation.
Mane, now 33 and playing for Al-Nassr, played across the frontline for Saints, scoring nine goals and providing four assists across 21 matches as a right winger in 2015/16, right before his move to Merseyside.
His propensity for goals off the right was further underscored during his early days for Liverpool.
Mane was one of the best wingers in the Premier League, but in Rodrygo, Liverpool could hit the jackpot on a new star, named as a “world-class” player by his former teammate Luka Modric.
Given that the South American would be playing with a new lease of life in a role catered better to his distinct qualities, it might be worth forking out a significant sum once again on FSG’s part.
Related
Better deal than Ekitike: Liverpool preparing £45m bid for “monster” star
Liverpool are still planning to make several more signings in the summer transfer market.
