Time to get MULLERED

FLO HAILED AS NATURAL SUCCESSOR TO GERMANY LEGEND THOMAS

- By PAUL GORST

IT’S easy to see why Florian Wirtz, alongside Bayern’s Jamal Musiala, has emerged as the golden boy of German football in recent years.

Since the start of last season, the attacking midfielder has contrib uted 23 assists and 21 goals for Bayer Leverkusen - but it is his unseen work that will have endeared him to Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

Since the start of last season, no player has won the ball in the final third more than Wirtz and his 383 successful duels this term is bet tered only by Bochum’s Ibrahima Sissoko. There is a quiet steel to the obvious silk.

"He has been the orchestrator and the conductor," says FourFour-Two's Bundesliga expert Ed McCambridge.

"His movement between the lines is fantastic and most of his best work goes unseen because it is about finding that space to work in.

"He is very much like Thomas Muller in that respect and he might even take that mantle now in German football now Muller has hung up his boots.