Dietmar Hamann has predicted that Liverpool 's supporters will "love" compatriot Florian Wirtz after the Reds agreed a fee with Bayer Leverkusen for the Germany international.
After weeks of negotiations, the Reds committed a guaranteed initial £100 million ($135 million) to the transfer, while the fee could rise to £116 million ($157 million) if various add-on clauses are met. Wirtz was the subject of interest from Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but he favored a move to Liverpool, emphasizing just how appealing the Reds are to join right now.
Hamann, who made 280 appearances for Liverpool, is confident that Wirtz will be a success on Merseyside. “I think he’s the best player we’ve (Germany) got," Hamann said, as quoted by Rousing the Kop. "And he’s... well, obviously he won’t be cheap, but I think he’s a player who makes other players better.
“[Fellow Germany international Jamal] Musiala likes to dribble, he likes to play on his own. But Wirtz is somebody, because if you look at the team now, Frimpong, I think he’s valued at 40 million, he’s coming for, he came to Leverkusen for probably half the money.
"And part of the reason why all the team is now worth probably a double of what they were worth before is Wirtz, because he brings them into play.
“He’s got a great eye for his teammates, he’s got a brilliant touch, he can finish himself. And he always got an eye for the pass. And obviously one thing is seeing the pass, the other thing is executing. But he does both.
"For me, he’s in the position, he’s probably the best player in Europe at the moment. And he played in a team that finished, well, they were 16th or 17th when Alonso took over. So they end up winning the league the season after, this year they finished second.
Florian Wirtz is set to join Liverpool
Florian Wirtz is set to join Liverpool (Image: 2025 Markus Gilliar - GES Sportfoto)
“And part of the reason or the biggest reason is Florian Wirtz. And if he comes to a team, which is even better than Leverkusen, I think it could be a perfect match. And I don’t think it will take too long, if he does come here, which I think he will, before the punters love him here.
“And the thing, why I think he will be a success, is that he can look after himself. He’s like a street kid. So he won’t shirk a challenge.
"He will be looked after by his teammates, I’m pretty sure, because he will be one of the main players next season. But if he needs to, he can look after himself. And he won’t be worried, he won’t be afraid of any physical presence shown against him.”