A Spanish star is being lined-up to replace Florian Wirtz at Liverpool according to a recent report.
For one reason or another, things just haven't worked out for Florian Wirtz at Anfield. Liverpool have seen flashes of the player they thought they were signing, but those moments have been far too rare.
And when you spend more than £100m on someone widely regarded as a generational talent, you expect a whole lot more than occasional glimpses of quality.
Wirtz arrived on Merseyside with enormous expectations. He was tipped to become a future Ballon d'Or winner, a player capable of reaching the very top of world football and leading Liverpool into a new era.
Right now, though, we're nowhere near seeing that version of him consistently.
Of course, there are arguments to be made about the system, his positioning and whether he's receiving the ball in the right areas. But at some point, you have to stop looking for excuses. The reality is that Wirtz simply hasn't been good enough. That's the bottom line.
What's really going on with Florian Wirtz?
Perhaps the biggest issue isn't necessarily tactical or physical. Maybe it's happening inside his head. Wirtz has already shown throughout his career that he possesses the quality to become a world-class player. When he's confident and playing freely, he can be absolutely devastating.
But confidence is a huge part of football, particularly for a player who arrives at a club like Liverpool carrying such a massive price tag. Every misplaced pass, every missed opportunity and every underwhelming performance can start to weigh on you when expectations are this high.
Right now, Wirtz looks like someone who is playing with a mental handbrake on. There seems to be something stopping him from expressing himself naturally, taking risks and trusting his own ability.
Perhaps he's overthinking things or trying too hard to justify the money Liverpool spent on him. Whatever the explanation, he needs to rediscover that freedom.
Nobody is questioning Wirtz's talent. The question is whether he can translate it into consistent performances in a Liverpool shirt. He has everything required to become a superstar, but potential only takes you so far.
Liverpool lining up move to sign Fermin Lopez
According to El Nacional in Spain, Andoni Iraola wants Liverpool to sign Fermin Lopez.
The report claims it would take €140m for Barcelona to accept an offer for Lopez and that Iraola has lost patience with Wirtz and is convinced the Spanish international would settle a lot easier at the club.
Perhaps that is Iraola also interpreting that Wirtz is a lost cause. And if that is true and the club's head-coach has also given up on the German, then it really does feel like there's no return.
But we like to take the optimistic view. This report feels a little far-fetched, and it also looks like Wirtz is growing in confidence after his performances against LASK and Brentford.
Perhaps, he still has it in him to turn everything around. It would be a remarkable climb back to the top. And we are ready to see it come to fruition.