A Rebuild That Might Need Phasing

There’s a way of looking at next season where one tactical tweak starts a whole chain reaction. If Wirtz does spend more time centrally, it changes what you need around him, and suddenly you’re talking about a proper reshuffle rather than a couple of tidy additions.

Wirtz central? Then the midfield needs shifting

In my head, Wirtz playing inside more often only really works if the team’s shape behind him is right. You can’t just stick another creative player in the middle and hope it sorts itself out. You need legs around it, you need coverage, and you need someone who can do the less glamorous stuff when the game turns scrappy.

That’s why the idea of either buying or promoting a younger centre-mid to replace Macca feels like it would be part of the same decision, not a separate one. If you’re asking Wirtz to occupy central pockets, you still need control. You still need someone who can get back into the block, help the press, and keep the tempo from dropping when the opposition tries to slow it down.

Left side replacement and the old Liverpool problem

A left-sided replacement for Diaz is another big piece of it. Liverpool have been at their best when the left side gives you both threat and work rate, because it affects everything: how high your full-back can go, how aggressive your counter-press is, and whether you’re forcing teams back or letting them play out.

If you’re already talking about changing the midfield profile, that wide forward spot can’t be an afterthought. It’s one of those positions where the wrong type of player makes the whole system look a yard slower.

Right-back competition, centre-back depth, and the bigger timeline

Then you get to the back line. A right-back to compete feels sensible, and at least one centre-back as well. That’s assuming Leoni actually gets back to full fitness and Konate signs a contract, because if either of those doesn’t happen you’re not talking about depth anymore, you’re talking about a major hole.

And that’s where it starts to feel like “one hell of a rebuild”. Not because it’s impossible, but because it’s a lot to do in one window while keeping the level where it needs to be. Especially when you’re looking ahead and thinking, hang on, Alisson and VVD are going to need replacing the season after too.

Sales, surprises, and the academy reality

To make any of this work, you probably need proper fees coming in. The fear is that it pushes you towards selling big names, and that’s why you can see the logic in thinking Mo and Macca could be on the move in summer. Maybe it even means a surprising sale like Mamadashvili if the numbers have to add up.

The other part is the academy. You need at least one lad breaking through every couple of seasons just to stop the squad becoming a shopping list. From the current crop, Trey feels the likeliest, but the truth is he’ll need actual minutes somewhere. Talent’s one thing, game time is the bit that turns it real.

Written by Hugo Spritz: 2 January 2026