12 months ago, Liverpool supporters were banking on attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz to lead the club to a second successive title after arriving at Anfield for a reported £116.5m.

However, the German international’s time on Merseyside has yet to ignite, with only a spattering of good performances being displayed by the 23-year-old.

51 appearances and just seven goals highlight his struggles within attacking areas of the pitch, which ultimately confined the Reds to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League last term.

Amid his struggles, the hierarchy have delved into the market to try and add further quality to Andoni Iraola’s side to help the Spaniard in his quest for success on Merseyside.

How Bradley Barcola could lead Liverpool to silverware

Silverware is the minimum every Liverpool expects every season given the money spent and history of the club, but there’s no denying the Reds fell massively short of such expectations last season.

Well, in an attempt to right the wrongs of last season, the hierarchy spent big in the latter stages of the summer window and secured the £123m signature of winger Bradley Barcola.

Defining the Frenchman as a serial winner is certainly an understatement, as he’s claimed a staggering 13 trophies during his three-year stint at PSG.

His experience of winning Europe’s biggest trophy, the Champions League, will be vital to Iraola’s men as they go in pursuit of their seventh UCL title in the 2026/27 campaign.

The 23-year-old has also consistently delivered during his spell in Paris, subsequently registering 38 goals and 35 assists in his 152 appearances across all competitions.

Barcola managed to rank in the top 7% of forwards across Europe last term for shots on target per 90, whilst also bettering 96% of attackers for big chances created per 90.

Both of the aforementioned figures demonstrate his relentless quality within attacking areas, something which Wirtz has been unable to do during his first 12 months on Merseyside.

How Liverpool have secured the next Florian Wirtz

Moving to a new country alone at such a tender age is undeniably a huge challenge for anyone, which could see Wirtz be given the 2026/27 campaign to demonstrate why the club paid such big money for his signature.

However, if he fails to reach the levels, it would be a surprise to no one if the club moved the German on to raise funds for a new elite-level number ten next summer.

The pressure will be on for the 23-year-old to be a hit under Iraola, who too is counting on the youngster to help him in his own quest for silverware to Anfield.

A new top attacker may not be needed in 12 months time though, as the club have already secured the services of Colombian wonderkid Samuel Martinez ahead of the 2027/28 campaign.

In July, it was confirmed by the Reds that a £750k deal had been reached with Atletico Nacional for the 17-year-old’s signature, but that he won’t arrive for another 12 months.

The teenager has agreed a five-year deal upon his move to Anfield next summer, with such a period potentially seeing him make his mark on the club’s senior ranks.

He may be an unknown quantity to many Reds supporters, but it’s safe to say the hierarchy have completed a deal for a young prodigy who could explode on the European stage.

The likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid were all keen on securing his signature, but the player himself had his heart set on a move to Liverpool.

He may be just 17, but Martinez has already been a consistent figure for Colombia at youth level - with his stats at the U17 CONMEBOL showcasing his incredible attacking quality.

The attacker completed a staggering 7.3 successful dribbles per 90 at a success rate of 63% - subsequently highlighting his ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas.

He also averaged 3.3 progressive passes per 90 at such a tournament - numbers which could provide Barcola with endless opportunities in front of goal after his own move to England.

Endless scouts have delivered glittering reviews on the teenage talent, with Bence Bocsak claiming that the Reds have secured the services of a “gem of a midfielder.”

He will need time to deliver the goods on Merseyside, but there’s no reason why Martinez can’t strike up a phenomenal partnership with Barcola at Anfield.

Such a move has increased the pressure on Wirtz to deliver the goods this term, as the German could face the prospect of losing his starting role to the youngster in 2027/28 and beyond.