Liverpool are brewing their own version of Wirtz in “fearless” academy star

Liverpool are riding the crest of a towering wave right now. Not only has Arne Slot won the Premier League in his first season since replacing Jurgen Klopp in the dugout, but he’s done so without overseeing any meaningful first-team investment.

And while Liverpool have proven themselves in their current iteration, FSG are of the opinion that they should strengthen while they are on top, moving swiftly to secure different signings before the 2024/25 campaign has even concluded.

Anfield will celebrate the top-flight title this weekend after tomorrow’s fixture against Crystal Palace is wrapped up, marking the end of the season, but the fans will have an extra decibel in their cheer, for sure.

Indeed, Jeremie Frimpong has completed his medical ahead of his slated transfer, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Milos Kerkez is also in advanced talks with sporting director Richard Hughes, viewed as Andy Robertson’s long-term heir.

However, it’s the staggering signing of Florian Wirtz (not yet finalised) that will prove to be Hughes’ magnum opus, for the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker is truly a “generational talent,” as claimed by sports media professional Cristian Nyari.

The latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

There was a point, not too long ago, when the fight for Wirtz appeared a two-horse race between Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Now, City have dropped out and the Bundesliga champions’ senior officials have ceded defeat in the race for the sought-after sensation.

Oh, this stems from Liverpool’s success. Many reports, corroborated by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, have revealed over the past day or two that FSG have convinced the 22-year-old Wirtz to make the move to Merseyside this summer, ending his illustrious career beginnings with the Werkself.

Though Leverkusen value their prized possession at around €150m (£126m), FSG will hope to structure the package in an astute fashion, thus leaving room to make another signing this summer – important given the need for a new centre-forward.

Liverpool are moving with the intent and confidence of champions, likely sealing three priority targets before the shops have even been unshuttered, but it’s important that Slot still promotes academy talent.

In a way, both Wirtz and Frimpong have combined to replace Alexander-Arnold, but fans would love nothing more than to see another homegrown prospect break onto the scene and prosper.

Well, they might just have such an up-and-comer in the works, one who could prove a homemade version of the elite playmaker.

Liverpool are brewing a homemade Wirtz

Liverpool don’t always produce superstars, but sometimes, one-in-a-kind talents emerge from the Merseyside floor to send waves across English football.

And while Slot will be keeping a close eye on the likes of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha, perhaps the two creams of the development squad’s crop, another has gone well under the radar in Trent Kone-Doherty.

Still only 18, Kone-Doherty has gone through the gears within Liverpool’s youth system since being signed in 2022, leaving Derry City in his Irish homeland.

He’s described himself as being “fearless” on the pitch, something that is clear when watching his long striding gait, his slick turns and artful skills.

Kone-Doherty is not just a showman, though, but also provides a clinical edge at the top end of the pitch, from a wide or central berth.

This term, having been promoted to the U21s, his potency has taken a hit, but it’s been a fundamental point in the player’s development, making his senior bow during Liverpool’s bitter FA Cup defeat against Plymouth Argyle in February, only featuring for 14 minutes but making a positive impression as he completed his one attempted dribble and finding the mark with one arcing cross, as per Sofascore.

He’s also earned rave reviews for his performances on the continental stage, with former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor hailing the teenager’s “absolutely magnificent” goal against Girona after the English side had gone a man down, praising his movement, strength, and intelligence.

Though Kone-Doherty typically operates from a wider berth than Wirtz, his unique blend of skill, strength, and sharpness suggests he could become a homegrown version of the German ten, demonstrating a natural goalscoring sense but also an eye for a neat pass which could play into Slot’s creative ambitions.

Slot, furthermore, has already shown a willingness to hand the Republic of Ireland U19 star his chance on the major stage, also placing him on the substitutes’ bench for the Reds’ 3-2 Champions League defeat against PSV Eindhoven in January.

Former U18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has also praised Kone-Doherty’s ability to go past bigger and stronger opponents with a breeze, owing to his clever approach to his football.

This, of course, is the bread and butter of Wirtz’s football. As per FBref, the Leverkusen superstar ranks among the top 6% of Bundesliga attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

All this highlights a technical quality of peerless scope, but also an athletic underbelly that charges his efforts. This is further revealed by his average of 5.2 successful duels per league game this term, as per Sofascore.

Though Kone-Doherty’s attacking quality centres more on his goalscoring than Wirtz, who knows where the back of the net is but is better known for his fountain of creativity that wells up whenever he’s in the danger area, he could enjoy a similar rise to the fore as a sort of hybrid between the left wing and a more central attacking position.

Both players bear a positional fluidity which, in Kone-Doherty’s case, could prove a trump card in standing out above the rest, capable across numerous areas.

And if he can translate his clinical shooting, bagging 19 goals from 29 games for the U18s, into life in Slot’s squad, the Dutch head coach might just find he has another Wirtz breaking through the ranks.