Liverpool could have a Florian Wirtz problem that will be a gamechanger if he can fix it

Liverpool could have a problem with Florian Wirtz, with the outcome an absolute gamechanger if he is able to break the so-called curse.

Wirtz has been linked with the Premier League champions throughout the summer so far.

Arne Slot's side have been looking to add more creativity to a team which were heavily reliant on the brilliance of 32-year-old Mo Salah.

And the German international is the man they believe can bring that spark, with 10 goals and 13 assists in the Bundesliga last season.

The year before, he won the league's player of the season award as Leverkusen completed an unbeaten domestic double, only falling short in Europe in the Europa League final.

After two failed bids, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have now agreed terms on a deal that could be worth up to €150 million with add-ons, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

It would make Wirtz the third most expensive signing in football history, behind only Neymar and Kylian Mbappe when they joined PSG.

And with such a huge price tag, there will be a huge amount of scrutiny from across the footballing world.

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How have other expensive signings fared?

In short, not very well.

With the Wirtz deal nearly finalised, football fans took to social media to debate how many of the top 10 most expensive deals have been a success.

And the most that anyone seemed to agree on was four.

Mbappe was the most widely accepted success, with his six Ligue 1 titles at PSG.

Although he was unable to help them win the Champions League, which they achieved in the first season after his departure.

Most felt that his teammate Neymar was also a hit in Paris, while Cristiano Ronaldo's two Serie A titles at Juventus meant his move was regarded positively.

World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea for €121 million and after a mixed start, some fans now feel he is starting to repair that money.

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The biggest transfer disasters clearly stand out as €135 million Phillipe Coutinho and €120.8 million Eden Hazard.

Coutinho made just 106 appearances for Barcelona, while Hazard, who was plagued by injuries at Real Madrid, only featured 76 times.

Can Wirtz break the curse?

Given that even the most successful expensive signings still have question marks over them, it is a reminder that spending the most does not always work.

But Liverpool will hope that investing heavily in a 22-year-old will pay off given the longevity he may offer at the top level

If Wirtz is able to deliver another couple of league titles at Anfield, he might be able to break the curse and keep Liverpool's place at the top of the Premier League cemented in the years after Mohammed Salah eventually departs the club.