Liverpool have agreed a club-record deal with Bayer Leverkusen for playmaker Florian Wirtz
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Florian Wirtz before a Germany game
Florian Wirtz is set to sign for Liverpool(Image: (Sebastian El-Saqqa - firo sportphoto/Getty Images))
Dietmar Hamann believes Florian Wirtz will thrive in the Premier League as he explained why Liverpool supporters will fall in love with the playmaker. It was confirmed on Friday morning that the Reds have agreed a £116 million deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign the 22-year-old in what could become the most expensive British transfer ever.
The Reds had two bids rejected, the last one of £113m, which would have seen £100m paid up front with performance-related add-ons, but have finally got the deal over the line. Wirtz is now expected to complete his move next week with a medical set to be scheduled.
The Germany international opted to move to Liverpool despite interest from Bayern Munich, Manchester City and also Real Madrid.
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And Hamann, speaking on the latest episode of the Aldo Meets Podcast, believes his old club and Wirtz are the perfect match.
He said: “Well, I think he’s the best player we’ve (Germany) got. And he’s well, obviously he won’t be cheap, but I think he’s a player who makes other players better.
“(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 double 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, and 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, and for me, he’s in the position; he’s probably the best player in Europe at the moment.
“He played in a team that finished, well, they were 16th or 17th when Alonso took over, hey end up winning the league the season after, this year they finished second, and part of the reason, or the biggest reason, is Florian Wirtz. If he comes to a team which is even better than Leverkusen, I think it could be a perfect match.
“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."
Before the 2005 Champions League winner continued: "Don't forget he had a cruciate ligament injury two years ago, and he came back even better - he is probably one of the few players who came back even stronger after this.
"And the thing I like, because I spoke to Carra (Jamie Carragher) as well, and I said he is exceptional. I think he is the best player.
"The thing why I think he will be a success is that he can look after himself. He is like a street kid. 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. He won’t be worried; he won’t be afraid of any physical presence shown against him.”