One of the main factors that made Florian Wirtz decide to join Liverpool was said to be Arne Slot's plan to let him play in the No. 10 position next season.
The duo have met to discuss plans and this is definitely a suitable position with many of Wirtz's strengths. The 25-year-old is a midfielder who likes to connect with the game, showing through 1,790 passes to the final third, the second most in the Bundesliga last season.
"Florian Wirtz is an extremely intelligent player, who understands the gap between the lines" - former Bayer Leverkusen assistant director Devin Ozek shared.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen striker Nathan Tella described his former teammate as "a creative player who can change the game".
European football expert Andy Brassell believes that having Wirtz play as a No. 10 will also help ease Mohamed Salah's attacking burden next season.
"We have very few No. 10 players like this in English football. So Florian Wirtz will bring something completely different to Liverpool and ease the attack on Salah" - Brassell said.
Under Xabi Alonso's professional tactical guidance over the past two and a half years, Wirtz has learned to play in many different positions at BayArena, one of which is a virtual striker.
With Diogo Jota injured for most of last season and Darwin Nunez often wasting opportunities, Slot often uses Luis Diaz as a false nine. In fact, Slot achieved great efficiency in the 4-0 win over Leverkusen at Anfield last November.
The Liverpool coach even experimented with a 4-2-2 formation several times last season. That system was successful in a 2-0 win over Man City at the Etihad in February.
Wirtz's Bundesliga heat map last season shows that Alonso has also often arranged him to play as a left winger.
That would be an attractive option for Slot, although the Dutch tactician is currently leaving Diaz and Cody Gakpo to take on the role. There is currently information that the future of both at Anfield this summer is in doubt.
However, if Liverpool successfully recruit left-back Milos Kerkez, Wirtz will be able to operate as an inverted left winger, moving into midfield to coordinate with other midfielders.
He could use sharp passes to penetrate the opposition defence when Kerkez overlapped the sidelines.
