Florian Wirtz's performances last season were frankly disappointing. The German was brought in to be Liverpool's main creative force following Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure.
While Wirtz contributed some notable performances, he failed to meet the heightened expectations placed upon him. At Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso built the team around Wirtz, making him a pivotal figure.
Wirtz's lacklustre form prompted Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, to seek new attacking options. Now it seems the Reds may have dodged a potentially costly mistake in the transfer market.
One of Liverpool's primary targets was Giannis Konstantelias. The Greek winger could have been the perfect replacement for Wirtz in the number ten role.
However, Liverpool chose not to sign the player, who subsequently joined Borussia Dortmund. Journalist Patrick Berger reported that Konstantelias suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his left knee during his first matches for the new club.
'Bitter fears confirmed: tears of the cruciate ligaments in Giannis Konstantelias's left knee. He will be out for several months,' wrote Berger.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund's hierarchy is urgently searching for solutions to this setback.
At the same time, Liverpool is holding out hope for Wirtz’s progression. The German and Alexander Isak were supposed to revolutionise the team’s play, but so far, that transformation has not materialised.
This summer, the club brought in Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola, but it is Wirtz who is expected to be the key link between midfield and attack in Andoni Iraola's system.
The midfielder's transfer cost Liverpool a staggering £116 million, and for that kind of investment, they expect a minimum of 15 assists over the course of the season.
