Liverpool FINALLY line-up deal to replace Philippe Coutinho | OneFootball

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© IMAGO - Arne Slot Richard Hughes Liverpool

That's why Liverpool are prepared to go big on Florian Wirtz and are lining up a move to sign him. It's clear the money is there to be spent on the German international, who might just be the closest thing to Coutinho since he left the club.

It's the way he moves on the pitch, the positions that he takes up. All of it reminds us of Coutinho's best and final version under Jurgen Klopp.

That came during the first half of the 2017/18 season, when Coutinho buckled down and struck up a formidable quartet with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

During that first half of the season, Liverpool played the best attacking football we have ever seen the Reds play. It was probably the ultimate peak of Klopp's gegenpressing.

Now, it looks like finally Richard Hughes and the recruitment team are looking to bring those exciting times back.

Wirtz will give Liverpool's attack a new dimension. He's probably going to come in as a no.10 and not as a false nine, if he does come in of course. There are barriers that Liverpool will have to overcome.

But if those barriers can be overcome, if Wirtz can be swayed, then the potential is enormous.

He's got the creativity to fill the void left behind by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Wirtz averages the second most key passes (1.16 per 90) and the third most expected assists (0.26 per 90) in the Bundesliga this season.

This was always one of Coutinho's best abilities. He could pick up the ball, create openings and find his teammates in space.

Wirtz's movement in those half-spaces and in and around the opposition's final third is what makes him one of the most exciting young players in European football right now.

Like Coutinho, he's also got a goal threat, and not just from short but long-range as well.

Out of his last 10 goals in all competitions, four of them have come outside the opposition's area. His ability to cut in from the left side onto his right foot is eerily reminiscent of Coutinho being able to do the same and score some absolute worldies for Liverpool.