Jurgen Klopp has delivered his verdict on Liverpool’s signing of Florian Wirtz, and the former Reds boss couldn’t hide his excitement.
The German, who stepped down at the end of the 2023/24 season, spoke to RTL/ntv and was full of praise for the club’s decision to strengthen from a position of power.
“This is going to be absolutely fantastic, I’m sure of it,” Klopp said.
“It’s very hard to strengthen a team when you’re champions. But Liverpool have managed it. They’ve signed an exceptional talent in Florian Wirtz. I’m looking forward to seeing it. It’s going to be great.”
Klopp’s comments only add to the sense of anticipation surrounding the 22-year-old’s arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in a British-record £116 million deal.
Wirtz has already visited the AXA and was unveiled formally on Friday evening.
The Bundesliga Player of the Year joins us off the back of 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games, having also helped his former side to a second-place finish in Germany.
Wirtz tipped to thrive in Liverpool midfield under Arne Slot
The arrival of Florian Wirtz means Dominik Szoboszlai is likely to have to fight for his minutes next season, as the German playmaker could take the central attacking role full-time.
That may raise further questions about Harvey Elliott, who has grown frustrated at limited minutes under the Dutchman, and whether another attacking midfielder in the squad might limit opportunities further for our No.19.
Klopp’s backing adds even more weight to what Liverpool have done this summer.
Coming off a title win and already having added Jeremie Frimpong and Armin Pecsi, the club has made clear they’re not standing still.
With a new centre-back now seemingly the next target once Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen is completed, it’s going to be a very busy summer.
As always, Liverpool are aiming for the top – and Klopp, for one, is convinced we’ve just made another step towards staying there.
You can watch Klopp’s comments on Wirtz courtesy of RTL/ntv (via dannybluey on Reddit):
Jurgen Klopp on the signing of Florian Wirtz
byu/dannybluey inLiverpoolFC
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You must now ask the question, why didn’t FSG back klopp when he won the league title?.
a lack of spending while on top meant we ended up in the Europa league, all of klopps recruitment team were let go, not even a sporting director. Innevitably in the end it forced klopp out of Liverpool. He didn’t walk away because of his health, but because FSG forced him out. Under klopp Liverpool had the lowest net spend of all the big clubs. Slot has done well, but he’s inherited what klopp built, he’ll be tested more this season. Supporters never get the truth, what happened behind the scenes wel will never know, but klopp was not backed by FSG, when he signed the new contract, promises of investment were broken .
Liverpool will never get another manager of the calibre of klopp that’s for sure. Forced out by FSG.
No. This is always the case with anti-FSG gremlins. You think you speak for Klopp, for Slot … but what you gimps are indirectly saying is that Klopp was a “yes man,” that he got what he was given. It is clear that Liverpool tried, & failed, albeit understandably so, to sign players like Caicedo, Lavia, Bellingham & others. How is that the fault of FSG? & then you add to the fact that there were changes during Klopp’s final seasons which made it difficult. Real life is not EA FC. Negotiations aren’t easy. We aren’t settling for bad players just to satisfy a few conspiracy theorists who pay attention to doomer accounts & they purport to be for Liverpool. Some of them wanted Elon Musk as an owner. Says it all.
Chatting nonsense there.