I don't think about it – Liverpool's Florian Wirtz unfazed by £100m price tag
However, speaking after impressing in a 3-2 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao on Monday evening, the 22-year-old brushed off the figures involved.
Wirtz insists his price tag does not affect him (Peter Byrne/PA)
'I don't think about it. I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn't matter,' he said.
'Of course the big challenge is to win the title again and it is the most difficult thing so (I will) try and just create chances and also work against the ball.
'I can also run a lot so (I will) bring this to the team and then with the ball I can make the team better and bring my team-mates into better situations.
'I came because I thought I could fit in this team and I am enjoying to play with these players and getting every time a little bit better so I am happy with how it is going.'
Wirtz's game is based around carrying the ball with purpose and bringing team-mates into play with his close control and lots of touches in and around the penalty area.
However, he will also provide a goal threat – he scored 57 times in 197 appearances for Leverkusen – and almost broke the deadlock against Bilbao with a header which clipped the crossbar.
He may find the Premier League is less forgiving than the Bundesliga but he is looking forward to finding out.
'I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch and the manager gives it to me because I have to respect the position and the players around me,' he added.
'I will try to find the right places to be and the right spaces to get the ball and to be dangerous and create chances – I have not played a match in the Premier League but I am looking forward and that is why I came.'
First appearances as Reds at Anfield for our summer arrivals ✊🔴 pic.twitter.com/lu8GMf1w7h
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 4, 2025
Asked whether he thought playing in England was more difficult than Germany and whether he would be able to continue to play his own game, he replied: 'To be honest, I don't know.
'There are some differences to Germany but I think there is also something I can learn and make me better so I am really looking forward to it.
'It's more intense and more physical, every player is really strong, really fast. That is what everybody is telling me.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd transfer news: Benjamin Sesko makes choice as contact made for 'unrealistic' deal
Manchester United look to have secured the signing of Benjamin Sesko, fending off Newcastle's interest, with the RB Leipzig striker closing on a move to Old Trafford Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Benjamin Sesko despite Newcastle also wanting to land the RB Leipzig frontman. Both teams are in the market for a striker, but the Red Devils look to have won the race. The Slovenian is poised to sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford and compliment the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo with his possible signing taking the Manchester outfit's spending to around the £200million mark. Ruben Amorim knew he needed to get serious quality through the door if he was to improve on last year's horror showing, which ended with United finishing 15th. The club still need to try and get a number of players off their books or risk carrying them for several months. Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony are all looking for ways out of Manchester and their exits could help fund some of the club's future business. Here's the latest news involving the Premier League outfit. Sesko training solo after picking Red Devils Leipzig have confirmed Sesko is training away from his team-mates as speculation over his move to Manchester ramps up. The striker reportedly told his team-mates earlier this summer that he would be on the move to pastures new. The German club confirmed on Wednesday morning that the 22-year-old was again working individually. In a brief statement they said: "Wednesday squad update: Andrija Maksimovic is back in Leipzig, but is training individually today. Benjamin Sesko and Lukas Klostermann are also working individually." Sesko is also very much on Newcastle's radar and the Magpies were the club to make the first bid. However the striker has expressed a desire to head to Old Trafford, shunning Champions League football in the process, as Amorim closes on the No 9 he's been after. Baleba contact made Those in Manchester have made contact with Brighton as they look to land explore a deal for midfielder Carlos Baleba. The Cameroon star enjoyed a stellar year last season and the Seagulls have no plans to cash in. The Red Devils are aware the move may be unrealistic, especially if their transfer funds to end up being spent on Sesko, but are looking to gauge whether anything can be done in the coming weeks as Ruben Amorim seeks to further bolster his squad, reports the Athletic. United's current focus is on landing the Slovenian from RB Leipzig after they jumped ahead of Newcastle in the transfer race. There is an acceptance that any move, which could cost more than £70million, will make any swoop for the Brighton star very difficult. Barca confident on Rashford registration Barcelona president Joan Laporta is confident the club will be able to register Marcus Rashford and their other signings before the new season starts. The forward has joined Barcelona on a season-long loan. The deal includes a £26m option to buy and involves Barcelona paying his wages in full. There were concerns that Barcelona may not be able to register Rashford due to their financial struggles - but they have been addressed. "It's progressing well," Laporta told ESPN. "We're doing our job and we're confident that we'll be able to register everyone." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Rusty Viktor Gyokeres not a concern for Mikel Arteta after defeat
Within days of joining Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres has broken records for the sales of his No 14 jersey once worn by the club legend Thierry Henry. On Wednesday night, supporters turned out in replica kit for their first proper look at the club's new £64 million striker, hoping that he will convert the chances that might have made a difference in last season's campaign, where they were Premier League runners-up and Champions League semi-finalists. Yet there is work to do with 11 days to go before Arsenal begin their new campaign at Old Trafford. Gyokeres looked understandably rusty, short of fitness and his team-mates were not always in sync with his direct runs as Arsenal lost 3-2 to Villarreal at Emirates Stadium. Juan Foyth, formerly of Tottenham, tackles Gyokeres MARC ATKINS/GETTY IMAGES The most notable names on the scoresheet did not include Gyokeres. Nicolas Pépé, the forward who in 2019 became Arsenal's record signing at £72 million, opened the scoring for Villarreal and Christian Norgaard showed he quickly adapted to Arsenal's trademark set pieces by heading in Gabriel Martinelli's corner at the far post. While Arsenal conceded three poor goals, Gyokeres's best chance arrived after half-time, when he was released at an acute angle and shot at Luiz Júnior's goal. Early on he could not climb enough for a cross and mistimed a scissor kick. Twice he drifted left to create space for a dribble and shot. Gyokeres had a frustrating summer as he worked alone to build up his fitness as Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon haggled over the £8.6 million in potential add-ons on top of an initial £54.8 million transfer fee. He has only had a few training sessions at Arsenal after meeting the squad during their tour in Asia. Mikel Arteta said he has no doubts Gyokeres will be mentally ready, at least, by the start of the season. 'Mentally and understanding what he needs to do, it will be 100 per cent or more because he's so willing and so confident as well that he can deliver straight away,' Arteta said. Pépé didn't celebrate at the Emirates after scoring the opening goal of the friendly EDDIE KEOGH/GETTY IMAGES 'I have no doubt that he will be in a really good place. I hope days [for team-mates to get used to him] and every day in training he's getting a really good feeling. His fitness level, he hasn't really trained with the team for two months.' Gyokeres will play in the friendly against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, although it is unclear whether a slight muscular issue will rule Kai Havertz out as it did last night. The 15-year-old Max Dowman impressed again as a substitute, winning a penalty that was converted by Martin Odegaard for 3-2. Gyokeres went off after 62 minutes and Arsenal searched for an equaliser with Mikel Merino up front, like last season. Pépé tapped home from close range after his initial shot rebounded off the post and Jakub Kiwior was outmuscled trying to clear the loose ball. Pépé's Arsenal contract was terminated in 2023, with a record of 27 goals in 112 games. Karl Etta Eyong converted from close range after David Raya parried Alberto Moleiro's shot. Arnaut Danjuma, the former Bournemouth winger, capitalised on further poor defending to fire across Kepa Arrizabalaga, who came on in the second half. 'The result is painful, we've been naive, especially defending open spaces,' Arteta said.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Premier League 2025-26 preview No 7: Chelsea
Guardian writers' predicted position: 4th (NB: this is not necessarily Michael Butler's prediction but the average of our writers' tips) Last season's position: 4th Securing Champions League qualification on the last day of the Premier League season and an unlikely Club World Cup triumph have transformed the club, their finances and ambitions for 2025-26. Chelsea stayed relatively under the radar for much of the Club World Cup – in part because of their relatively kind route to the later stages – but their commanding 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the final means they are again regarded as a potentially dominant European force and perhaps even as contenders for the Premier League title. That is if Chelsea are ready – mentally, physically and tactically – for the new season. By the time Chelsea played the Club World Cup final on 13 July, nearly every other Premier League side had started their pre-season. Since then, while Liverpool, Arsenal and co have been hard at work, the players have had three weeks off and returned on Monday, with two friendly matches, two days apart, scheduled before their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on 17 August. To say Chelsea are playing catch-up is a severe understatement. That said, this is probably the most exciting period for Chelsea since the Champions League triumph in 2021. With the exception of goalkeeper and possibly centre-back, Enzo Maresca has a claim to having two elite players in every position and he could yet add further depth with Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho heavily linked. Departures will be needed to trim the fat and balance the books – Chelsea were given a €31m (£27m) fine last month by Uefa for breaking financial rules – but few would argue against them having the deepest squad in the league and one of Maresca's biggest challenges will be maintaining harmony and continuity, on and off the pitch. Last season, the Conference League was a useful chance to rest and rotate players. The Champions League will not be so accommodating. As recently as April, Maresca was at odds with the Chelsea fans and appeared to blame a negative environment at Stamford Bridge for a 2-2 home draw with Ipswich that left top-five hopes fading fast. But five wins from the final six league games secured fourth place, saving Chelsea's season and possibly Maresca's job. 'They were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough,' he said. 'Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. So in English, how do you say? Eff-off to all of them.' Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph – and the tactical masterclass by Maresca in the final to neutralise PSG's front three and create pockets of space for Cole Palmer – means he will get a very different reception at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's league opener. Chelsea's much-maligned financial gymnastics of recent years – the eight-year contract amortisation (a loophole closed by Uefa), the sale of their hugely successful women's team (to their own parent company) and their rampant use of multiclub ownership and the loan system – have infuriated rivals and allowed them to assemble one of the deepest, youngest, most talented squads around. In the Todd Boehly era, Chelsea have spent more than £1.5bn and the club face an additional €60m fine from Uefa if they fail to comply with regulations over the next four years. A bigger stadium would help, but what Chelsea do with Stamford Bridge remains unclear; the 40,044-capacity ground is not easily developed given challenges ranging from the freehold to a nearby railway line. A move to Earl's Court has been mooted. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Estêvão was courted by PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and is widely regarded as the biggest talent to come out of Brazil since Vinícius Júnior. The 18-year-old's performances at the Club World Cup – including a brilliant strike for Palmeiras against Chelsea in the quarter-final – suggests that the summer arrival is already world class. Players swooned over the teenager at the final whistle in Philadelphia – 'I told Estêvão: 'We are excited for you to join' but he didn't understand a single word I said,' Palmer said after swapping shirts with the £52m signing. Capable off both wings or as a No 10, the slender Estêvão will want to impress the former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, now of Brazil, before the World Cup next summer. 'He potentially can be a top defender for this club,' Maresca said of Josh Acheampong after the defender's performances at the Club World Cup prompted whispers that several clubs in England and Europe were tracking the teenager. How the 19-year-old fits into Maresca's plans remains to be seen, but his versatility, 6ft 3in stature and composure enabled him to enjoy a breakthrough year with 13 first-team appearances. Naturally a right-back or a centre-back but capable of playing anywhere across the backline, Acheampong joined Chelsea as an under-eight and signed a new five-year contract in 2024. 'The clubs that were mentioned, they like Josh, but we also like Josh,' Maresca said. 'The best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Roméo Lavia. The 21-year-old's quality is not in question. Chelsea are a better side with Lavia, more fluid and press-resistant, and he was sensational in a 3-1 win against Liverpool in May when he completed 100% of his passes. Maresca even moved Moisés Caicedo to right-back to accommodate Lavia alongside Enzo Fernández at the back end of last season, but concerns remain over the Belgian's fitness. After a first year when he managed 32 minutes in 2023-24, another injury-hit campaign followed, starting 11 league games. Another year on the sidelines could spell trouble, particularly as Chelsea have Caicedo, Fernández, Dário Essugo, the impressive Andrey Santos and perhaps Reece James competing for two spots in defensive midfield in Maresca's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
