He was Arsenal’s “dream target”: Liverpool ready bid for £65m Wirtz upgrade

It was a major present of religion in Rio Ngumoha’s potential when Liverpool opted towards instantly changing Luis Diaz this summer time.

Diaz, 28, had been a gradual supply of positivity down the left flank for over three years on Merseyside, and he was instrumental in successful the Premier League final season, posting 17 objectives and eight assists throughout all competitions.

However he and FSG had reached a contract dispute, and his openness to shifting for brand spanking new pastures noticed Bayern Munich’s £65.5m provide accepted in August. He introduced 4 main honours to Anfield.

Liverpool welcomed a wealth of expertise to their ranks this summer time, however they did not signal an out-and-out left winger. Partly, this was due to Cody Gakpo and £116m arrival Florian Wirtz’s potential to play out on the flank, however Ngumoha’s emergence additionally performed an element.

Nevertheless, the up-and-down begin to the season can have proven Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes that maybe that was a mistake. And if rumours are to be believed, the Reds hierarchy are contemplating rectifying that blunder.

Why Liverpool want a left winger

When Wirtz joined Liverpool in July, it was anticipated that he would settle in as one of many Premier League’s finest gamers. That’s nonetheless the anticipation, although his begin to life in England has left a lot to be desired.

After helping Hugo Ekitike on his debut within the Neighborhood Defend, the 22-year-old has since blanked throughout every of his eight appearances, missing the standard and confidence within the essential moments to make a distinction.

That high quality is in there, however Liverpool’s wider tactical struggles this time period have exacerbated Wirtz’s sluggish begin, with the attacking midfielder struggling to seek out his toes throughout central and huge berths.

Whereas the German worldwide can play out huge, this isn’t his best function, and with that in thoughts, Liverpool would possibly wish to signal a Diaz-like winger in 2026 to assist stability the system out as soon as once more, maybe elevating Wirtz’s sport concurrently.

And, in line with Spanish sources, FSG are making ready an official €75m (£65m) provide for Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, although the Basque outfit are holding out to see that their €90m (£78m) valuation is met.

Williams, 23, was reported by Fabrizio Romano this summer time to be Arsenal’s “dream goal”, however the Gunners didn’t make a breakthrough and went down a unique monitor.

Liverpool are conscious of curiosity from different suitors and hope to shut a deal swiftly, so hold a detailed eye on this one.

What Nico Williams would carry to Liverpool

A maverick of a winger, Williams rose to prominence for his performances on the 2024 European Championship with Spain, important to the Iberian nation’s triumph, hailed for his “unimaginable” expertise by Barcelona’s Pedri.

Throughout that summer time match, Spain had been merely a reduce above the remaining, and Williams and Lamine Yamal drew so many plaudits for his or her electrical performances, uncontainable.

The fast-footed expertise has performed 171 matches for Athletic Bilbao and earned 30 caps for Spain. For his membership, he has posted 32 objectives and assists apiece.

A groin harm has disrupted his begin to the present marketing campaign, however with a aim and two assists to his identify already, the £276k-per-week ace is certain to hit kind as soon as health ranges have been recovered.

Final season wasn’t certainly one of seamless success for Williams, who solely scored 5 occasions in La Liga, however he notched 14 objectives throughout all competitions and confirmed via his underlying information his high-level potential. As per Sofascore, he accomplished 2.3 dribbles and received 4.9 duels on common every sport.

It is greater than Williams operates in an analogous technique to Diaz, and thus may very well be a useful puzzle piece for Slot because the Dutch supervisor works on recalibrating his out-of-sorts Liverpool group.

You’ll hope that the Merseysiders’ struggles would have been combatted by the top of the marketing campaign, however Williams might show a long-term success and an improve on Wirtz down the left channel.

Curiously, there are fairly a number of similarities between the respective gamers, despite the fact that stylistic variations are clear when observing them in motion.

Each gamers are adept at taking up defenders, with staggering shut management. Wirtz is suave on the ball. Nevertheless, Williams is extra of a relentless provider, and that’s one thing Slot’s facet have to stretch strains and accommodate Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak within the centre.

In truth, he has been described previously as a “world-class prospect” by journalist Zach Lowy, who went on to say that the “absolute menace” was proving a terror for Spanish defences throughout the 2023/24 marketing campaign.

It is clear that Wirtz is a proficient footballer and that he might grow to be one of many Premier League’s main figures at Liverpool. However Liverpool have to signal a first-class winger so as to add width and vitality to Slot’s flanks.

Williams is that man, together with his “unpredictable” and “relentless” dribbling, as famous by analyst Ben Mattinson, certain so as to add a dimension to the Liverpool fold, particularly when Mohamed Salah lacks his one-time athleticism on the alternate wing.

Is Williams a extra technically proficient footballer than Wirtz? Does his ceiling stretch larger than the German playmaker’s personal? In each circumstances, most likely not.

Nevertheless, Liverpool have not seemed fairly proper this season, and the Spaniard’s electrical tempo and Diaz-like qualities as a winger would possibly show the improve wanted to revive the tactical equilibrium.