Possibly, my take on it would be that maybe we are looking to move to more of a diamond midfield shape or a 4222 as Sithbare has mentioned which also tallies with the profile of the two attacking full backs (Frimpong and Kerkez) we look likely to bring in.
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I actually see the whole thing about two attacking full-backs being just a continuation of what we currently have. I’m sure if we’re concerned about being too attacking with Kerkez on the pitch, we would play Gomez (or even Quansah) instead. It’s not as though Bradley can’t be disciplined enough to stay back either.
Joyce:
The attraction of Wirtz, who has 79 goal involvements in 93 appearances for Leverkusen over the past two seasons, is obvious. He has also been the subject of interest from City and Bayern Munich.
The feeling at Anfield remains that the 22-year-old will either stay at Leverkusen or move to Bayern Munich in a deal that could be worth in excess of €100million (about £85million). However, should he see a future away from the Bundesliga, Liverpool will make an approach for him.
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Great. IF this gets more serious, we can discuss panicking about his injury history
( 
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Close the damn thread.
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Hopefully, this rumour is just a smokescreen for Arda Güler.
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Someone needs an introspection lest they fall into the Nikola category.
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He looked nailed on for Bayern Munich to me. Then they overstepped the mark, upset the family, and the Prem came into view. At that point Man City seem more likely, as a KDB replacement, but I’m glad that we are interested in good players too, and signing him would be a great coup. I don’t see it is a likely, though you never know.
I’m a bit unsure as to what our plans would be up front if we did sign Wirtz. Would we still go for a number 9 or would we come up with another permutation?
Probably a moot point, and I expect a Bayern apology to smooth it over, before he goes there. Or, if they are really unhappy with them, Man City will sign him, the cheats.
It’s Bayern or Real. Move on.
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This one is never going to happen.
Also naive to think that Wirtz would solve all our ‘Darwin problems’ while at the same time making fun of Havertz being Arsenals main attacker is a national sport on TAN.
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The wirtz deal is unlikely to happen.
the way I see it is that our goal threat is still more likely to come from the inside forwards in Diaz/Gakpo/Salah.
Getting wirtz in might just mean he’s doing the firmino role. We’ve started using the false 9 long before Havertz was pushed there by Arteta.
Havertz isn’t a bad false 9, it’s just that he’s a very inconsistent in finishing. He’s mocked because of the chances he misses not because he’s a bad stylistic fit to Arsenal’s system.
In case we get Wirtz or someone like that. Slot would adjust with the formation sufficiently while still maintaining the double pivot.
In case we get a DM to slot in alongside Gravenberch, we just push Macallister up into the more attacking role. Macallister can suit in just about everywhere in the midfield. His flexibility allows us those options.
In case we get someone like Isak (assuming Nunez goes) , he would walk into the side ahead of Jota in that CF role in the tactics we currently use.
Basically , I’m expecting Slot to tailor our formation to get the best out of the players. It’s in our best interest to keep Diaz and Salah higher up the pitch and closer to the goal. Attacking wingbacks help us provide the width as well.
That was my thought as well.
Wirtz is primarily a central attacking midfielder, and we haven’t used one of those all season. We used Dom at AM and his job was to do Mo’s running for him.
Wirtz is an incredible player, and only 22. If we could manage to get him then we start to build our attacking system around him, like we have done for Mo
If we really were to spend that big on a player, would you rather Wirtz + cheaper striker (David?), or Isak + cheaper mid (Cherki?)?
(This is all hypothetical, doubt either will happen.)
Wirtz is a different gravy to any of them. Would get that done and figure the rest out.
Really hope City don’t get him
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When we are talking about players of this value we are forgetting that it’s almost impossible to prise them away to anywhere without astronomical wages. That is something we don’t do under the current ownership.
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However we do keep things quiet and come up with some left field stars. I think this is all agent talk for a pay rise.
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Not necessarily. Graham yesterday spoke how the media focused too much on Virgil’s fee and not the whole financial package (which doesn’t have to be known!). Virgil still got high wages at the time, but not the package was not as high if it was a cheaper fee for a yonger player not coming from a non-CL side like Southampton. Wirtz would get high wages, but nothing astronomical that would break our structure. If that was the case, Bayern couldn’t do it, they’re notoriously afraid of the sort of wages other top EU clubs can offer. Remember when they wanted Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, they ran away when they heard his wage requests.
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