Latest news with #JurgenKlopp
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jurgen Klopp Reacts to Liverpool's ‘Absolutely Fantastic' Florian Wirtz Signing
Jurgen Klopp Reacts to Liverpool's Record-Breaking Move for Florian Wirtz Liverpool's capture of Florian Wirtz represents more than a record-breaking deal. It's a declaration. In securing the Bundesliga's standout performer for £116 million, the Premier League champions have signalled a refusal to plateau after last season's triumph under Arne Slot. Jurgen Klopp, now watching from afar after his emotional Anfield exit in May 2024, had nothing but praise for the move. Advertisement 'This is going to be absolutely fantastic, I'm sure of it,' Klopp told RTL/ntv. '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.' X: @LFC Wirtz's arrival has sent ripples through the footballing world. The 22-year-old arrives off the back of a stellar campaign with Bayer Leverkusen, tallying 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances and being named Bundesliga Player of the Year. He helped propel Xabi Alonso's side to a second-place finish, and now he is expected to inject even more dynamism into Liverpool's attacking third. Midfield Puzzle Taking Shape With Wirtz unveiled at the AXA Training Centre and already donning the red shirt in official club media, attention quickly turned to how Arne Slot will integrate the German into an already stacked midfield. Wirtz's preferred central attacking role is currently occupied by Dominik Szoboszlai, and that battle for minutes could be one of the most intriguing subplots of the new season. Advertisement Further down the pecking order, questions surround Harvey Elliott's role. The young Englishman has reportedly grown frustrated with his minutes under Slot, and the addition of another high-profile playmaker may narrow his opportunities even more. That said, competition at the elite level is non-negotiable, and Liverpool are making it clear they intend to stay there. Photo: IMAGO Klopp's Shadow and Slot's Statement Klopp's comments carry weight. Though no longer in the dugout, the former boss remains an iconic figure at the club, and his endorsement of Wirtz only fuels expectations. 'Exceptional talent' is not a term Klopp uses lightly, and his remarks will resonate with fans and players alike. Advertisement For Slot, this is more than just another new signing. It's a test of how Liverpool's recruitment aligns with his tactical philosophy. The Dutchman has already added Jeremie Frimpong and Armin Pecsi to his squad, both with clear developmental upside, but Wirtz comes in ready to deliver at the highest level from day one. Transfer Window Far from Over The Wirtz signing doesn't signal the end of Liverpool's summer activity. With Jarell Quansah's expected move to Bayer Leverkusen nearing completion, eyes are now on the centre-back market. Reinforcements in that area appear inevitable, especially if Liverpool aim to maintain their dominance domestically and in Europe. In typical fashion, Liverpool are making bold moves with conviction. Klopp may have handed over the reins, but the ambition has not softened. In Florian Wirtz, they believe they have acquired a game-changer. Whether that belief pays off will be one of the defining questions of the season ahead.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jurgen Klopp gives his verdict on Florian Wirtz's stunning £116m move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shared his verdict on the Reds smashing their transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz, 22, completed his switch to Anfield on Friday in a move that saw Liverpool fork out a whopping £116million to secure his services. The transfer comes as a statement of intent after Klopp's successor, Arne Slot, looks to defend the Premier League title he won in his first season after taking over. Now, Klopp has revealed his thoughts on the signing of Wirtz, who scored 10 goals and notched 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season. Speaking to RTL/NTV on Saturday, Klopp said: 'This is going to be absolutely fantastic, I'm sure of it. '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 come after Mail Sport exclusively revealed how Liverpool were able to sign a player who was courted by top clubs across Europe. 'He is a quiet guy, not like a loud speaker,' says a source who has spent time with Wirtz. 'He is cleverer than you think, only speaks when he wants to. He is a cool guy.' He will be ably supported in starting a new challenge by the presence of his friend and former Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong, who completed a switch to Anfield earlier this month. 'I am with Jeremie almost every day off,' Wirtz said last year - in a statement that will be welcome to Liverpool fans given they will reunite in England once again next season. The Premier League champions will begin their title defence with a clash against Bournemouth at Anfield on opening night before a tricky trip to Newcastle. Arne Slot's side have a fairly tricky start to the campaign to navigate, with fixtures against Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United before the end of October. Along with their clashes against the Gunners, Reds fans will also be keeping an eye on matches against Manchester City, which are set for early November and early February. Another headache for the Reds will be this year's Africa Cup of Nations, which will likely rule Mohamed Salah out of the away fixture against Arsenal in January. The end to the season also looks tough, with matches against United, Chelsea and Aston Villa before Brentford on the final day.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Klopp praises Liverpool's record Wirtz deal in simple message
Jurgen Klopp's Verdict on Florian Wirtz Sums Up Liverpool's Bold New Era Florian Wirtz arrives as Liverpool's new centrepiece Liverpool's summer transfer window has exploded into life with the arrival of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, a £116 million acquisition that does more than just break British transfer records. It marks a shift in tone, a signal of intent, and a reaffirmation of ambition from a club freshly crowned Premier League champions. Advertisement While Arne Slot prepares for his second season at Anfield with the trophy already tucked under his arm, it is this move for Wirtz that may define what comes next. Jurgen Klopp, watching from the wings, sees something special. When asked for his thoughts on the transfer, he needed only three words: 'It will be really, really great.' And then, just to ensure no one misunderstood, he added: 'I'm sure of it.' Photo: @LFC Klopp's legacy and Liverpool's evolution Klopp may no longer be patrolling the Anfield touchline, but his influence lingers in the DNA of this club. The German's verdict on Wirtz was more than a polite nod to his countryman's talent. Speaking to RTL, he said: 'It's very difficult to strengthen them when you're champions. But Liverpool have managed that. They've signed an exceptional talent in Florian Wirtz.' Advertisement It is a glowing endorsement, and from a man who knows exactly what it takes to thrive on Merseyside. Klopp saw the evolution coming. He spoke often of leaving the club in a position of strength. That Liverpool can now attract a player courted by Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid is evidence of that vision bearing fruit. Wirtz chooses Liverpool over European royalty The magnitude of this move cannot be overstated. Wirtz, only 22 but already a 31-cap Germany international, had his pick of Europe's giants. Yet the call of Anfield proved irresistible. 'I just thought that it was the right point in my career to make the next step and of course I wanted to get to a club that is from the top three in the world, and in my opinion Liverpool was one of them,' Wirtz explained. Advertisement That conviction did not emerge overnight. It was shaped by conversations and trust, a process that began quietly but quickly grew persuasive. 'Yeah, I just saw myself in the best hands in Liverpool. I was really convinced by the people here, by the idea, and everything what the club offers me was really good. And in the end [it was] also easy to be excited for me to come to Liverpool.' He acknowledged the difficulty of turning his back on German football, but the persistent clarity of vision at Anfield won him over. 'Every time I spoke to one of the people from the club I felt like, 'this is the place I want to be' and so in the end I was really 100 percent convinced I want to join Liverpool and it was the best choice.' More than a transfer, it is a statement There will be questions, naturally. Can Wirtz live up to the £116 million price tag? Will he thrive in the Premier League's unforgiving tempo? But those feel secondary to the bigger picture. This move is not reactive, not scattergun. It is measured, ambitious, and rooted in belief. Advertisement Liverpool, with Arne Slot at the helm and Klopp's words still echoing, have placed their faith in a footballer with the intelligence, flair and maturity to become the new axis of their midfield. The price may be headline-grabbing, but the strategy behind it is anything but impulsive. And in the background, with a quiet smile and those three telling words, Jurgen Klopp watches on.
The National
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
RB Salzburg talent Adam Daghim out to make his mark against Al Hilal at Club World Cup
Jurgen Klopp sat in the VIP seats, a special observer making his first appearance at an RB Salzburg home match since his appointment as Red Bull Football's head of global soccer. It's a job that prioritises talent development, at which Salzburg are the leaders in the group of clubs Klopp now oversees. Within barely half an hour of April's contest against Sturm Graz, Klopp was looking like the animated, engaged figure who used to patrol the touchlines at Liverpool and Dortmund. Here, in his new gig, he was enthusiastically applauding the game's opening goal. It had been scored by a teenager in whom Salzburg – who on Sunday take on Al Hilal aiming to take a firm step towards the knockout phase of the Club World Cup – have great hopes. Adam Daghim has startling speed, a booming left foot, a strong right foot, imposing height, impressive power in his duelling and evident confidence in his dribbling. 'He's 1.90m tall and left-footed, which is something everybody is searching for, all over the world, and his mentality is also a really big strength,' beams Thomas Letsch, the Salzburg head coach, fully aware that at this club, such talents are bound, sooner rather than later, to move on to grander leagues than Austria's. Daghim's prospects are many. Among those tracking the 19-year-old's progress are Italy's Atalanta. There is reported interest from English clubs. Choices may have to be made about his next destination as early as this summer. Beyond that, he will be confronted with a major decision about where he steers his international career – whether to represent, at senior level, his native Denmark for whom he has been capped at age-group levels, or to follow his elder brother Ahmed or his fellow Danish-Palestinian striker, Al Ahly's Wessam Abou Ali, in playing for Palestine, the land of his heritage. The Daghim brothers grew up in Copenhagen, where his parents had settled after moving from the Middle East. Ahmed, five years older than Adam, acted as a pathfinder for his brother into the upper tiers of youth football in Denmark. Both were natural wingers, both jet-heeled. 'When Adam was four or five, we could see he really had speed,' his father, Arafat, recalled to DAZN. He was soon a prodigious achiever, enrolled in the youth system of FC Copenhagen and, with the promise of accelerated progress to first-team football, he agreed to sign for Aarhus, AGF. He duly became the youngest player in the club's top-division history, at 16, when he made his Super Liga debut. At 17 he was clocking up minutes for AGF in Uefa competitions. Salzburg were by that stage – the summer of 2023 – in contact. And their offer to any up-and-coming footballer tends to be compelling. The club's tried-and-tested model since they came under the well-funded Red Bull umbrella has been to establish a streamlined worldwide scouting network with a high-rate of success for those whose elite potential it identifies. The diverse Salzburg squads reflect that global reach. The club's coaches like to promote young talent rapidly and, in many famous cases, to then wish them well in their path upwards when, still young, they join one of Europe's superclubs. A new recruit can aspire to play in the Uefa Champions League, too. It was RB Salzburg's consistent participation in the competition that earned them their ticket to the Club World Cup. Standards slipped for Salzburg in the 2024-25 Champions League, but for Daghim it marked another landmark. He struck an important goal in their pre-qualifying tie against Dynamo Kiev to ensure Salzburg would make the league phase; he scored his first goal in the Champions League proper, against Atletico Madrid, later in the season. The precedents he can look to are many and illustrious. Daghim cites two. 'When I knew Salzburg were interested, I saw Erling Haaland and Sadio Mane had played there,' he told DAZN. To that list of ex-Salzburg forwards can be added the likes of Benjamin Sesko, now coveted at RB Leipzig, Dominik Szoboszlai, of Liverpool, Noah Okafor of AC Milan or Munas Dabbur, the Nazareth-born striker whose later career took him to La Liga, the German Bundesliga and most recently to Shabab Al Ahli. And that's before you start to catalogue the players involved at the Club World Cup for whom a formative spell at Salzburg was a trampoline to major success in Europa's leading leagues; Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano and Konrad Laimer, Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi and Marcel Sabitzer and above all City's Haaland, who departed Austria aged 19, with 29 goals from his 27 games in Salzburg's colours. Daghim, who spent the first of his two seasons at Salzburg at their feeder club Liefering – he was only 18 then – is entitled to dream of following in those sorts of footsteps. Klopp likes what he sees. He's shown an effectiveness across positions in the attacking line, and a collective ethic. 'He will always work for the team, which is a really important part of our philosophy,' says Letsch. An event like the Club World Cup represents a showcase. Letsch insisted on Daghim's participation ahead of competing interest from Denmark in taking the forward to the European under-21 championship, which is being played simultaneously. Although the Salzburg coach chose to use Daghim as an impact substitute in the opening fixture against Pachuca of Mexico, he did so minded to keep him fresh for the collisions with Al Hilal and on Thursday against Real Madrid. Salzburg, a little unexpectedly, sit at the top of Group H thanks to the 2-1 win over Pachuca. The meeting with Al Hilal looks pivotal. The Saudi Arabian giants impressed in their matchday one draw with Madrid but will sense that Daghim and his young teammates have an upstart swagger about them – and some big dreams for the long-term future.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Klopp congratulates Liverpool on $173mn Wirtz deal: ‘It's going to be great'
DPA Berlin Jurgen Klopp has congratulated his former club Liverpool on the high-profile signing of Germany star Florian Wirtz. 'This is going to be absolutely fantastic, I'm sure of it,' the German said in an interview with RTL/ntv on Saturday. The English champions already had 'a fantastic team' last season under his successor Arne Slot, 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.' Liverpool have signed the 22-year-old from Bundesliga runners-up Bayer Leverkusen, reportedly paying up to €150 million ($173 million) including bonus payments. The playmaker has signed a long-term contract. Wirtz is Liverpool's second signing of the summer, following close friend and Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, and with the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvilli joining next month. The Reds will begin their Premier League title defence at Anfield on August 15 against Bournemouth.
