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Despite his lack of goals since joining Liverpool, Florian Wirtz's market value has continued to soar. The Reds secured Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window in a deal that could reach up to $157 million with add-ons.
At the time, this was potentially a club and British transfer record, until Liverpool later signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for $169 million. Wirtz took over the iconic No. 7 shirt at Anfield, left vacant after Luis Diaz's move to Bayern Munich.
Wirtz is yet to net his first goal for Liverpool, but has provided three assists, two of which came in the Champions League. He put in a standout performance against Real Madrid in Europe recently, where he was deployed on the left wing.
Since his nine-figure signing, Wirtz's performances in a Liverpool shirt have been under intense scrutiny. However, the CIES Football Observatory has delivered some positive news regarding Wirtz's market value.
The site has listed Wirtz's market value as high as €173 million ($199.8 million), significantly more than what Liverpool agreed to pay Leverkusen, even if all add-ons are activated. Considering Wirtz is still only 22 years old, there's ample opportunity for that fee to rise.
Arne Slot, Liverpool's head coach, defended Wirtz's goalscoring form for the Reds earlier this week.
"You can say he [has only] started one of the last four but you can also say he's started eight, nine, 10 or 11 already this season," Slot shared with journalists on Monday, just a day before Liverpool triumphed over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
"I've said this quite a lot, it is not being used as an excuse but just how it is, many times we have to play three games in seven days with only two days' rest in between.
"For a player who comes from a different league - which is a very good league by the way - nine out of 10 people would agree the Premier League is a bit more intense, especially in all the games.
"If you look at that then he already played a lot.
"He has had his impact in a lot of games but has been unlucky with the end product either by himself or his team-mates.
"For me, he exactly brought what we expected, a player who created a lot for the team.
"He will have his goals but I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone that if you're 22 or 23 and come to a different league that you might need some time to adjust to that intensity if you play every three days, with only two days' rest in between.
"Before, Ryan Gravenberch was sitting here (in the press conference) and it took him a while to adjust to the intensity, maybe even longer than it is going to take Florian."
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