Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has leapt to the defence of his former Bayer Leverkusen teammates, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, insisting that the pair will soon come good at Liverpool despite enduring a slow start in England, Soccernet.ng reports.
Boniface, who joined Werder Bremen from Bayer Leverkusen this summer on a loan deal, said both players have the quality to succeed at Anfield.
The Nigerian forward also urged Liverpool fans to remain patient as the duo adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
“Jeremie Frimpong and I talk every day because Jerry’s my guy. As for Flo (Florian Wirtz), don’t worry – you’ll enjoy watching him soon. We all know how brilliant he is,” Boniface said, during a press conference in Germany as per BoldSports.
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about their performances so far, but trust me, Flo is a wonderful player – hardworking, humble, and very talented. Soon, Liverpool fans will see his quality, and he’ll deliver. I’m very confident he’ll come good.”
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Wirtz and Frimpong adjusting to new terrain
Liverpool paid a combined £145.5 million to bring Wirtz and Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer: £116m for the 22-year-old German midfielder and £29.5m for the Dutch right wing-back.
But while both were instrumental in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title triumph during the 2023-24 season, life in England has proved more demanding.
❤️ Florian Wirtz got the Boniface celebration on point! ✨
Fantastic duo for Leverkusen this season. pic.twitter.com/XyGf8zADYH
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 19, 2023
Wirtz is still searching for his first Premier League goal or assist after 10 appearances. He has, however, offered glimpses of his creative flair in Europe, recording two assists in four UEFA Champions League games.
Frimpong’s adjustment has been further complicated by a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for several weeks. The Dutchman made nine appearances before being ruled out, and Liverpool manager Arne Slot has spoken publicly about easing him back carefully into competitive action.
Boniface, who shared two impressive seasons with both players at Leverkusen, described their talent as ‘undeniable’ and said the Liverpool move was only a matter of time before success follows.
“They just need a bit of time to get used to the system and pace,” he said. “The Premier League is different, but Flo and Jerry are too good not to adapt. They’ll deliver soon.”
Super Eagles star Boniface under pressure at Werder Bremen
While Boniface is offering words of encouragement to others, he himself is fighting for form at Werder Bremen, where he is on loan from Leverkusen.
The Nigerian forward is enduring a difficult spell, having failed to score in 13 consecutive matches across all competitions. His last goal came in March during Leverkusen’s defeat to Bochum.
Werder Bremen boss Horst Steffen has publicly challenged the 24-year-old to raise his game after another subdued performance in the 1–1 draw against Mainz.
“He tried to hold the ball up in attack, but today I thought, come on, he can still do better,” Steffen said after the match.
It was the second time the coach has criticised his striker this season, having earlier urged him to ‘stay more central’ after a 3–0 loss to Freiburg.
Reports in Germany claim Boniface is still regaining full fitness and has been advised to trim down to improve his sharpness. Steffen, however, insists the Nigerian remains part of his plans.
“He’s on the right path, but he still has a long way to go,” the manager added.
Boniface’s struggles have had a knock-on effect on his market value, which has fallen from €40m to €20m, according to Transfermarkt.
Once among Nigeria’s brightest attacking prospects, he now ranks sixth among the country’s most valuable players and 57th in the Bundesliga.
The summer was equally turbulent for the striker, as a proposed move to AC Milan collapsed following reports of a failed medical. Bremen later stepped in to offer him a lifeline, hoping a change of environment might spark a revival.
Despite the barren run, Boniface remains Bremen’s most valuable player and is expected to lead the line when the club face Wolfsburg on Friday.