Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki: Premier League-Bound Stars Compared Ahead of Potential Transfers to Liverpool and Manchester City
Two of the most promising young talents in world football could soon be making their way to the Premier League. Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki are at the center of transfer speculation, with reports suggesting Wirtz is on Liverpool’s radar, while Manchester City are eyeing Cherki. These high-profile moves have become some of the most talked-about topics as the 2025 summer transfer window gets underway.
Wirtz has long been heralded as a rising star in German football, playing a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen’s title-winning campaign under Xabi Alonso. In France, Cherki has been making headlines of his own with standout performances for Lyon, drawing comparisons to former club icon Karim Benzema.
As both players gear up for significant transfers—Wirtz potentially commanding a fee of over £100 million and Cherki available for a more modest sum just above £25 million—GIVEMESPORT analyzed their 2024/25 season statistics to determine which club may be getting the better deal.
Finishing Ability: Slight Edge to Wirtz, but Efficiency Favors Cherki
While goalscoring may not be their primary responsibility, both players are expected to contribute in the final third. With Liverpool still relying heavily on Mohamed Salah and Manchester City on Erling Haaland, any added goal threat would be a bonus.
Wirtz narrowly leads in goals scored, netting 10 times in the Bundesliga compared to Cherki’s 8 in Ligue 1. However, a deeper dive reveals a twist—Cherki might actually be the more clinical finisher. Despite Wirtz having better shot accuracy overall, his conversion rate lags behind Cherki’s, suggesting the Lyon playmaker may be more efficient with his chances. If both are placed in similarly creative teams, Cherki could ultimately prove the more lethal.
Chance Creation: Evenly Matched, But Cherki Shows Potential
In terms of creating opportunities for teammates, the two are nearly level. Wirtz edges ahead with 12 assists to Cherki’s 11. Yet Cherki averages more chances created per game—3.3 versus Wirtz’s 2.2. Both average one through ball per 90 minutes, indicating strong playmaking instincts.
Cherki’s superior chance creation numbers hint that he might have suffered from poor finishing by teammates, which suppressed his assist count. This could suggest higher creative upside once surrounded by more clinical finishers.
Wirtz vs Cherki – Finishing & Creation Stats:
Statistic Wirtz Cherki
Assists 12 11
Chances created per 90 2.2 3.3
Through balls per 90 1 1
Possession Play: A Statistical Tie
When it comes to retaining and using possession effectively, both players excel in different areas. Of the ten metrics analyzed, Wirtz leads in five, and Cherki in the other five.
Wirtz attempts and completes more passes in the attacking half and wins more duels. He also edges Cherki in take-ons completed and ball recoveries per game. On the other hand, Cherki’s strength lies in his carrying ability. He boasts a better take-on success rate, loses possession less frequently, and records more touches in the opponent’s box. Remarkably, despite attempting more forward passes per game, he maintains a higher pass completion rate than Wirtz.
Wirtz vs Cherki – Possession Stats:
Statistic Wirtz Cherki
Passes attempted 60.8 53.5
Pass accuracy (%) 82.33 84.13
Passes completed in opp. half 39.5 32.3
Forward passes per 90 14 15.1
Take-ons completed per 90 3.2 2.2
Take-on success rate (%) 50.93 52.75
Duels won per 90 6.2 4.5
Ball recoveries per 90 4.4 3.7
Possession lost per 90 21.7 19.2
Touches in opposition box 6.2 6.5
Verdict: Two Stars, One Bargain
The stats show just how evenly matched these young talents are. Both have excelled in their respective leagues and offer slightly different skill sets. Wirtz may carry more hype—and a significantly higher price tag—but that doesn’t necessarily make him the better value.
Despite his recent dip in form, Wirtz appears capable of handling the pressure that comes with being labeled the next global superstar. But big-money signings don’t always pan out—just ask Barcelona about Coutinho, Dembélé, and Griezmann.
Cherki, on the other hand, represents a lower-risk investment with potentially similar upside. Given the relatively modest fee, he might be the more astute acquisition. Whether it’s at Anfield or the Etihad, both players are poised to make a major impact if their moves go through.