Carragher: Wirtz part of worst PL transfer window ever
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- Liverpool drew 2-2 at Newcastle on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 Premier League season, prompting Carragher's on-air dissection of their midfield and recruitment
- Carragher said Florian Wirtz could be part of the worst transfer window in Premier League history, noting the £116.5m German managed only 5 goals and 3 assists in 33 league appearances last season
- Liverpool's £445m summer 2025 outlay included a Premier League-record £125m for Alexander Isak, plus Hugo Ekitike (£79m), Milos Kerkez (£40m), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m), Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m) and Giovanni Leoni (£26m)
- Arne Slot was sacked after Liverpool limped home fifth last season, having conceded 78 goals overall and 53 in the Premier League — the most in the club's top-flight history
- Carragher said the Gravenberch–Szoboszlai–Wirtz midfield leaves gaping space for counter-attacks, and that Liverpool must now sign a holding midfielder — with Szoboszlai moving to No 10 — for Iraola's system to function
- Carragher valued Wirtz at £50m–60m rather than £116.5m, calling him "neat and tidy" and saying he cannot see where the German fits in Iraola's setup, which prizes high-energy wingers
- Carragher ruled out a title challenge this season, saying Champions League qualification would be a satisfactory campaign as Liverpool transition under Iraola and prepare to lose "three all-time greats" — Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson
Why it matters: Liverpool splashed £445m last summer to turn a title-winning squad into a dynasty — instead they finished fifth, sacked their manager and conceded a club-record 53 Premier League goals, and now face spending again on a holding midfielder they failed to buy the first time around. With Salah, Van Dijk (35, "needing protecting") and Alisson likely gone within 12 months, the same window Carragher now calls the worst in PL history is what Iraola has to rebuild from.
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