Two of football’s most promising young talents are on the verge of making their Premier League debuts, as Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki prepare to join Liverpool and Manchester City respectively. These transfers have quickly become the hottest topics during the early days of the 2025 summer window.
Wirtz has been a standout figure in German football, playing a key role in Xabi Alonso’s successful Bayer Leverkusen side that secured a double last season. Meanwhile, Cherki has been making waves at Lyon, following in the footsteps of Karim Benzema.
With both players poised for major moves, Wirtz reportedly valued at over £100 million and Cherki expected to transfer for around £25 million.
SHOLY NATION SPORTS takes a closer look at their performances throughout the 2024/25 campaign to assess which club has made the smarter acquisition with their young creative prodigy.
Finishing
Finishing is one of the most important attributes a player can have, as it greatly increases their value to the team. It’s crucial to produce consistent goal output.
Between Florian Wirtz and Rayan Cherki, Wirtz has the edge in finishing despite Cherki scoring a spectacular goal against Spain. This season, Wirtz has scored 16 goals, while Cherki has 12 for their clubs.
Finishing stats:
| Statistic | Wirtz | Cherki |
| Goals | 16 | 12 |
| Total Shots | 113 | 74 |
| Shots on Target | 54 | 32 |
Chances Created
Both players excel in creating chances. While assists are a good indicator, they also depend on having reliable finishers in the team.
Wirtz has registered 14 assists this season, while Cherki has an impressive 20 — both outstanding numbers.
Chances creation stats:
| Statistic | Wirtz | Cherki |
| Assists | 14 | 20 |
| Chances Created | 91 | 128 |
| Big Chances Created | 23 | 38 |
Possession
Possession stats provide an interesting comparison between the two players.
Wirtz leads in some areas such as successful dribbles and duels won. Cherki, however, has the edge in passing accuracy and long-ball accuracy.
Possession stats:
| Statistic | Wirtz | Cherki |
| Accurate Passes | 1,842 | 1,593 |
| Passing Accuracy % | 83% | 84% |
| Accurate Long Balls | 45 | 66 |
| Long Balls Accuracy % | 65% | 72% |
| Successful Dribbles | 105 | 89 |
| Ground Duels Won | 4.9 | 2.0 |
| Possession Lost | 18.3 | 4.0 |
Conclusion
Based on the data, both players are exceptional talents, and any team acquiring either of them will benefit greatly.
Wirtz has been at the top of his game for the past four seasons. Regardless of his recent form, he remains a quality player who will handle the pressure of a high-value transfer to Liverpool well.
Cherki, on the other hand, is a raw talent and a chance-creating machine, known for his quickness and flair.
After careful consideration, Cherki seems to be the safer option because of his lower transfer fee. This is a major reason why he stands out as the more attractive choice between the two.
Statistics via: SofaScore.
