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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Florian Wirtz will be the ninth German to play for Liverpool – how others fared including flop who lasted just two games
LIVERPOOL'S rebirth was made in Germany through the inspirational figure of Jurgen Klopp. Now the Reds want his countryman 9 Florian Wirtz will become Liverpool's ninth German Credit: Getty 9 Loris Karius is remembered for his mistake in the 2018 Champions League final Credit: Getty Images - Getty 9 Dietar Hamman won everything but the Prem with Liverpool Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 9 Sean Dundee managed just three games for the club Credit: Getty You could argue that no one of any nationality has made such an impact at Anfield as Klopp since legendary boss Bill Shankly. Although German players have enjoyed success at Without the reign of Klopp, the club he left last year would almost certainly not have been in a position to buy one of the best young players in the world. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Before Klopp could turn Liverpool into winners of the biggest prizes again, he had to change the club's culture. Zeitgeist is the German word that usually refers to the spirit and philosophy of a particular historical era. In Klopp's case, he combined his homeland's trend for gegenpressing, high-energy, attacking football with his unique gifts as a man-manager to transform the Reds. When he left Anfield last summer after nearly nine years in charge, he had led Liverpool to English, European and world titles, plus three domestic cups. Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The club's transfer spending and strategy this summer, after Slot delivered championship No 20, are designed to deliver even more silverware across the next decade. And Wirtz, who is yet to reach his prime, is the man they hope will play a big part in Although Liverpool fans will find it hard to keep a lid on it, the older ones will know not to get too carried away. The first big German star to come to Anfield was Karl Heinz-Riedle, fresh from scoring twice as Borussia Dortmund beat Juventus 3-1 in the 1997 Champions League final. But the emergence of Michael Owen restricted the striker's appearances and he left after two seasons. Sean Dundee, an even less-heralded centre-forward, came and went before Dietmar Hamann became the first big German success story at Liverpool. With countrymen Markus Babbel and Christian Ziege, Hamann was part of an extraordinary year under Gerard Houllier in 2001. The Reds won both domestic cups and lifted the Uefa Cup after a 5-4 golden goal win over Alaves. If you count the Community Shield and Uefa Super Cup — and back then Liverpool did — it was five trophies in a calendar year. But while Ziege and then Babbel moved on after good but not brilliant stays at Anfield, Hamann stuck around. 9 Christian Ziege had a solid spell at Anfield Credit: Getty 9 Markus Babbel was another German success story Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd And boss Rafa Benitez brought the defensive midfielder on at half-time of the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, with his side 3-0 down. Although others stole the headlines, Hamann's display was crucial in the greatest comeback in the competition's history. And like a typical German, he also scored Liverpool's first penalty in the shootout that sealed victory — all with a broken toe. The first Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid to join Liverpool arrived in 2012, 13 years before Wirtz. But injuries played a big part in forward Samed Yesil struggling to make an impact and he left after just two League Cup appearances. The next Leverkusen prodigy, Emre Can, fared better. He arrived in 2014, a year and a bit before Klopp, and under his countryman finished a runner-up in the League Cup, Europa League and Champions League. After the latter heartbreak against Real Madrid, Can went to Juventus on a free and enjoyed success there. Goalkeeper Loris Karius was the only senior Germany player ever signed by Klopp, but he was never the same after two awful mistakes in that final with Real. After being poleaxed by Sergio Ramos early in the game, the dazed keeper rolled the ball straight to Karim Benzema to open the scoring. Sadio Mane equalised, then Gareth Bale produced a worldie overhead kick before Karius let a more saveable Bale strike from distance go through his hands. Karius finally left Anfield in 2022 after three loan spells. His two seasons at Newcastle included a Carabao Cup final defeat and he is back in Germany in Bundesliga 2 with Schalke. Wirtz — whose fee But he will have his work cut out to become as loved by Liverpool fans as Klopp. 9 Emre Can was a key part of success under Jurgen Klopp Credit: Getty Images - Getty 9 Karl Heinz-Riedle was the first big German star on Merseyside Credit: Alamy 9 Samed Yesil featured just twice Credit: AFP
Metro
25-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Hamann says Liverpool star could be 'biggest transfer mistake in club's history
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Darwin Nunez could be the 'biggest transfer mistake' the club have made in their entire history. Nunez joined Liverpool for a club-record fee of £85million back in 2022, with the ex-Benfica striker putting pen to paper on a six-year contract at Anfield. But in between occasional flashes of brilliance, Nunez has badly struggled to live up to that price tag and managed a total of just five goals across the Reds' Premier League title-winning campaign this term. As a result, Nunez is deemed surplus to requirements on Merseyside – and the Uruguay international is expected to leave when the summer transfer window opens for business. Reports emanating out of Spain last week claimed Nunez had held talks with Atletico Madrid and the a verbal agreed had been reached over a proposed switch to the Spanish capital. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Atleti are yet to negotiate a fee for Nunez, though, and the La Liga giants may have to fend off interest from the Saudi Pro League to capture the 25-year-old. 'Is Darwin Nunez the biggest transfer mistake in Liverpool's history? Maybe, it's just part of the game,' Hamann told Betting Lounge. 'When you bring players in, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. 'People probably thought, myself included, if you bring somebody in for £85million, it guarantees you goals, but looking back it wasn't money well spent. 'Now you need to see how much you recoup. Maybe one of the Saudi clubs comes and you get your money back.' 'The other thing is, we shouldn't forget that he's been part of a title winning side. He played his part as much as everybody else.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Hamann says it is a 'very good sign' that Liverpool have still managed to be successful despite spending top dollar on an signing that has not worked. 'He was part of the team. He contributed maybe not as much as others, but sometimes it's easier to swallow when you bring a player in like him, when the team is still successful regardless,' he added. 'I think it's a very good sign for the state Liverpool is in at the moment to bring in a forward in for a lot of money and he doesn't score many goals, but you're still winning.' Liverpool have reportedly won the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen and Germany star Florian Wirtz this summer. But the Reds are also believed to be in talks over a possible bid for Christopher Nkunku, despite the torrid time the Frenchman has endured at Chelsea. 'You've got to feel for him because picked up a bad injury, he did his ligament when he came to Chelsea,' Hamann said of Nkunku. 'Obviously he's a brilliant player. That's why he's been at the top level for some time. Injury can obviously play a part because he was just full of confidence before that. 'I think he tried things which he never really thought they're not going to come off and confidence is a big thing. 'With Nkunku, if the knee doesn't bother him, and obviously you've got to do a medical when you come to a club, I think he's a player who can really go places if he goes somewhere else.' More Trending According to Hamann, Nkunku is more than capable of scoring 25 goals a season if he finds a team that suits his strengths. 'If he went to a club where he was the main man then he could score 25 goals a season. I think he could go places because he's a fantastic player,' the 2005 Champions League winner added. 'From what I've seen in the Bundesliga the last few seasons, I've rarely seen a player that excited me more than him. It's a shame it hasn't worked out, as I said. The injury didn't help. 'It'll be interesting to see what's going to happen because I think he's a fantastic player if you handle him the right way.' Is Nunez Liverpool's worst ever signing? For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Jack Grealish next club odds after getting axed from Man City squad MORE: Julian Nagelsmann sends message to Florian Wirtz over Liverpool transfer MORE: Man Utd stars 'beg' teammate to stay and have one big fear if he leaves
Leader Live
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Hamann says Callum Wilson would be great signing for Wrexham
The Reds are preparing to make the step-up to the Championship for the first time in more than four decades and boss Phil Parkinson is keen to strengthen his squad ahead of the new campaign. Didi Hamann, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, says the signing of Newcastle striker Wilson would be a success for Wrexham. Speaking to Hamann said: "Callum Wilson would absolutely be a great signing for Wrexham. Newcastle will probably improve their squad for next season and it will be even harder to get game time. "For Wrexham, if they want to get promoted into the Premier League they will probably need to have a Premier League level squad given the quality of the teams at the top of the Championship. "So they will be looking at Premier League players and we've seen teams do back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League in recent years, Wrexham could be a similar story. "A player like Callum Wilson with that experience, he will be able to keep the level up in the Championship and teach the young lads, I could see that signing being a success." Since joining Newcastle in 2020, Wilson has netted 47 goals in 110 appearances. Prior to this, 33-year-old Wilson was at Bournemouth, where he scored 61 goals in 171 games. For more on Hamann's thoughts, go to the blog at:
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hamann: Bayern must be 'careful' how to announce possible Müller exit
Dietmar Hamann, Former German footballer and Sky pundit, talks to journalists ahead of the German Bundesliga top match between Dortmund and Munich. Federico Gambarini/dpa Former Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has said that Bayern Munich must provide their icon Thomas Müller with a decent farewell, such as at the Club World Cup, if they decide not to rewnew his contract beyond the season. Advertisement Kicker sports magazine and the Bild paper have said that Bayern appear set to part ways with the 35-year-old Müller who has been at the club for 25 years and is their record and most successful first team player. Hamann told Tuesday's Münchner Merkur/tz papers that "the club must now be careful that the situation doesn't escalate. "The bosses must make sure that they communicate this decision in such a away that it does the player justice. He is an icon of Bayern. He deserves a dignified farewell," the former Bayern and Liverpoolo player Hamann said. Hamann said it appears that Müller believed that Bayern would renew his contract for another year. He did not speak after Saturday's 3-2 over St Pauli while club bosses have referred to talks with him, Eric Dier and Leroy Sane, whose contracts also expire. Advertisement The 2014 World Cup winner Müller is a living legend at Bayern. He has played close to 750 matches for them, won two Champions Leagues, 12 Bundesliga titles and six German Cups. But the forward is no longer a regular starter and has played only sporadically this season. The club has prioritised contract renewals of Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies. Bayern could make the Champions League final in their home stadium on May 31 while Hamann said that renewing his contract for a few weeks to allow him to compete at the June 14-July 13 Club World Cup was an option. "A short term renewal for the Club World Cup would make sense. Especially looking at all the injured players. That would be one final joint effort. If Bayern would win the Club World Cup with and for Müller it would a super ending," Hamann said. Advertisement Hamann added he believes that Müller wants to continue playing, and while he doesn't expect him to transfer within Germany a move to Major League Soccer could make sense. He said that "a move to the US is the only option" in his opinion, also to give him peace after Müller was the preferred Bayern interview partner of the German media for many years. "The MLS could do him good in this respect. Not everyone wants to know everything about him there. He could only play football and live rather in peace. He would surely enjoy it, provided he wants to play there," Hamann said.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool already had Harry Kane transfer warning as Arne Slot told who he should sign instead
Harry Kane finds himself as the subject of sensational transfer rumors linking him with a move to Liverpool, but the Reds have already been warned against making a move for the England international. Liverpool does look likely to be in the market for a new striker this summer, with an upgrade on Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz clearly needed. That has led to some big names being linked with a move to Anfield, including Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Few could have expected Kane to feature though, yet it's now being suggested that the Reds are the favourites to land the Bayern Munich star's signature this summer. READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister involved in Argentina brawl as Liverpool teammate Darwin Nunez lays on floor READ MORE: Julian Alvarez just gave Liverpool clear transfer decision as Darwin Nunez flops again According to Spanish outlet El Nacional, the former Tottenham frontman is 'seriously considering' a move back to the Premier League, and Liverpool is supposedly leading the way for his services. Strangely enough, it's a move former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann may have already seen coming. During an interview with Boyle Sports back in December, Hamann discussed the prospect of the England captain making the move to Merseyside. "Could Liverpool move for Harry Kane?" Hamann said. "To be honest, he seems happy at Bayern Munich and I don't think Munich want to sell him either. "I don't think that will happen and Liverpool have never been the biggest spenders, so it's unlikely." Hamann though did suggest one striker who the Reds should be targeting, with the former midfielder tipping Jhon Duran as an ideal candidate - the Colombia international would go on to secure a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr from Aston Villa during the January window. "However, Jhon Duran is a brilliant player and the way he plays, it always helps having a player with a physical presence up front," Hamann said. "He created space up front and made a huge impact for Villa - I certainly think Liverpool need to keep an eye on him." Hamann has been critical of Kane's form for Bayern Munich, suggesting that he does not score enough important goals for the Bavarian club. Kane has scored 32 goals in 37 appearances for Bayern this season, having netted 55 goals in 64 appearances for club and country last term, but Hamann told Sky Germany in November: "I said after the European Championship in the summer that he still has to prove that he is worth the 100 million - even though he scored over 30 goals last year. "He wasn't brought in to score a hat trick against Darmstadt. He was brought in to score against Leverkusen and Aston Villa and to score in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He hasn't done that yet. I remain skeptical about the star striker." An original version of this article was first published on December 18, 2024.
