
Wirtz unfazed by huge Liverpool price tag
However, speaking after impressing in a 3-2 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao on Monday, the 22-year-old brushed off the size of his transfer fee.
"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 teammates into better situations."
Liverpool face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the season-opening Community Shield on Sunday and kick off their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth on August 15.
Germany international Wirtz said he was relishing the challenge.
"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," he said.
"It's more intense and more physical, every player is really strong, really fast. That is what everybody is telling me."
Big spenders
Liverpool have spent more than £250 million so far in the summer transfer window on a clutch of new players including Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, who also came from Leverkusen, and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The club are understood to have made a bid of around £110 million plus potential add-ons for unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak last week, which was rejected.
Manager Arne Slot said after two friendlies against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday that there was "always room for improvement" despite the club's march to a record-equalling 20th league title last season.
"We've added a few, in my opinion, extra weapons," said the Dutchman. "So, Florian has a lot of creativity in the final third. We've lost with Trent (Alexander-Arnold, who has signed for Real Madrid) a lot of creativity from the back.
"Trent's crosses and picking out runners was so special -– I think Flo has this quality as well in a totally different position."
Liverpool paid tribute to late forward Diogo Jota in their first matches at Anfield since the forward and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain last month.
Slot said in his programme notes that it had been a "tough time for everyone connected with the club, but especially for Diogo's family, his wife, his children and friends".
"We cannot imagine the pain that they have been going through, and the club will continue to give them all the support they can going forward," he wrote.
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Bank of England set to cut rate as UK economy weakens
With the BoE likely to trim borrowing costs by a quarter point to 4.0 percent, focus will be on potential changes to the central bank's economic growth and inflation outlooks. "There are clear signs of (UK) economic deterioration, particularly stemming from the labour market," Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, noted ahead of the latest rate call. "Yet policymakers must weigh this up against the risk of inflationary pressures particularly with rising food prices and international uncertainty around (US President Donald) Trump's tariffs and volatility in energy markets." Against this backdrop, analysts expect splits within the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee. Some argue that while the majority of the nine policymakers, including governor Andrew Bailey, will vote for a quarter-point cut, some are likely to demand an even larger reduction and others no change. A quarter-point cut Thursday would be the BoE's fifth such reduction since starting a trimming cycle in August 2024, emphasising its "gradual" approach to reducing rates. The BoE's main task is to keep Britain's annual inflation rate at 2.0 percent but the latest official data showed it had jumped unexpectedly to an 18-month high in June. The Consumer Prices Index increased to 3.6 percent as motor fuel and food prices stayed high. Weak economy Latest official figures also show that Britain's economy unexpectedly contracted for a second month running in May and UK unemployment is at a near four-year high of 4.7 percent. This is largely down to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government increasing a UK business tax from April, the same month that the country became subject to Trump's 10-percent baseline tariff on most goods. London and Washington reached an agreement in May to cut levies of more than 10 percent imposed by Trump on certain UK-made items imported by the United States, notably vehicles. Last month, the BoE warned in a report that tariff unpredictability and Middle East conflicts pose risks to UK financial stability. The US Federal Reserve last week kept interest rates unchanged, defying strong political pressure from Trump to slash borrowing costs in a bid to boost the world's biggest economy. Asked about US tariffs following the decision, Fed Chair Jerome Powell told a press conference: "We're still a ways away from seeing where things settle down." The European Central Bank is meanwhile widely expected to keep rates unchanged at its next meeting, with eurozone inflation around the ECB's two-percent target. But that could change, according to some economists, based on how Trump's tariffs affect the single-currency bloc.


France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
'Global icon' Son Heung-min joins LAFC from Tottenham
The 33-year-old will reportedly cost a Major League Soccer record $26 million transfer fee, according to ESPN and The Athletic, after a decade in the Premier League where he became a household name. An emotional Son announced on Saturday in his homeland that he would be leaving Spurs, just months after ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by lifting the Europa League as captain. He leaves as Tottenham's fifth highest goalscorer of all-time with 173 goals in 454 appearances. 'Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football,' said LAFC co-president & general manager John Thorrington. "We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career. "Sonny is a proven winner and a world-class individual, and we are confident he will elevate our club and inspire our community – both on and off the pitch." Son is set to be presented at a press conference in Los Angeles at 2 pm local time (2100 GMT) His imminent arrival drew crowds on Tuesday to Los Angeles International Airport with fans waving South Korean flags and messages of support. Son will replace French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July, and will share a dressing room with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham. 'Sonny is one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous Lilywhite shirt and he has been a joy to watch over the past decade," said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. "Not only is he a wonderfully gifted footballer, but he's also an incredible human being who has touched hearts and inspired people throughout the club and all over the world. "The Europa League triumph in Bilbao was a truly magical moment in the club's history and Sonny lifting the trophy is a perfect lasting memory from his fantastic decade at Tottenham Hotspur."


France 24
10 hours ago
- France 24
Isak told to train alone by Newcastle
The 25-year-old has been linked with a British transfer record move to Liverpool after failing to feature in Newcastle's pre-season preparations. Isak missed the Magpies' trip to Singapore and South Korea, citing a minor thigh injury, and instead flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad. He has since returned to Tyneside but Sky Sports reported that Isak was instructed to train after the rest of the squad had departed on Wednesday. "You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United," Howe told reporters earlier in pre-season. "We will make sure that any player earns the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal." Liverpool have seen a £110 million ($146 million) bid for Isak rejected, according to reports, with Newcastle seeking closer to £150 million. Another major hurdle to any deal is Newcastle's ongoing struggles to finalise a deal to replace Isak. They face competition from Manchester United for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko after missing out on Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Liam Delap earlier in the window. Liverpool have already splashed out over £250 million this window on Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. However, they have also recouped major funds from the sales of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton. And Darwin Nunez is close to a £46 million move to Saudi side Al Hilal that would free up more resources and space in the squad for another bid to sign Isak. Since joining Newcastle for £63 million in 2022, Isak has scored 62 times in 109 appearances, including the goal that secured the club's first domestic trophy for 70 years in the League Cup final against Liverpool in March.