Florian Wirtz’s move to Liverpool has smashed the British transfer record after the Reds agreed to pay a colossal £116million for the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker
Jurgen Klopp has warned new Liverpool star Florian Wirtz that his £116million price tag will put a target on his back. Wirtz, 22, has joined the Reds in a British record-transfer deal, signing a lucrative five-year contract.
Liverpool fended off interest from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to sign the Germany international from Bayer Leverkusen. Klopp’s former club will pay Leverkusen a fixed £100m plus £16m in potential add-ons.
Despite describing Wirtz as an ‘outstanding player’, the ex-Reds boss can’t help but baulk at the fee. In an interview with German newspaper Welt, Klopp said: “There’s no question about it, it’s an insane sum, and one that a player at Liverpool is aware of if things don’t go well for two or three games.
“We all agree that we’re talking about a great player here. I know I once said that I’m out if we pay 100 million euros for a player. But the world is changing. That’s just the way the market is.”
The 58-year-old went on to hail Wirtz, who has the difficult task of improving the Premier League champions. “I don’t know exactly which position Arne (Slot) has Florian in mind for,” Klopp noted.
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“He’s an outstanding player who can give any club something great. Whether he’ll make the reigning English champions even better remains to be seen.”
It’s not the first time that Klopp has commented on Wirtz’s record-breaking move to Anfield. Speaking to German broadcaster RTL last week, Red Bull’s head of global football operations said: “It will be really, really great. I’m sure of it.
“It’s very difficult to strengthen them when you’re champions. But Liverpool have managed that. They’ve signed an exceptional talent in Florian Wirtz.”
Did Liverpool overpay for Florian Wirtz? Have your say in the comments section.
Klopp will be able to get the inside track on Wirtz’s progress thanks to maintaining a strong relationship with Liverpool. “We’re in very good contact – with some of the players who write now and then or send the occasional photo from their holidays,” he revealed to Welt. “The owners have become good friends.”
Klopp also joked: “I’ve also written to Arne now and then; we’ve only seen each other once. He was pleased with my gesture back then. And to be honest: when things started off so well under him, I briefly asked myself as a person whether I was happy that things were like this.”
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