Wirtz unfazed by huge Liverpool price tag

LONDON — Florian Wirtz says his huge price tag "doesn't matter", as he prepares for his first season in the Premier League after a switch to champion Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.

The attacking midfielder arrived at Anfield for an initial 100 million pounds ($132 million) that could rise to 116 million with add-ons, making his move a potential British record.

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 put my teammates into better situations."

Liverpool faces FA Cup winner Crystal Palace in the season-opening Community Shield on Sunday and kicks off its Premier League title defense at home to Bournemouth on Aug 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 spender

Liverpool has spent more than 250 million pounds 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 is understood to have made a bid of around 110 million pounds, plus potential add-ons, for unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak last week, which was later 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-equaling 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 signed for Real Madrid), a lot of creativity from the back.

"Trent's crosses and ability to pick out runners were 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 accident in Spain last month.

Slot said in his match program 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 to go forward," he wrote.

"We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go."

AFP