Jurgen Klopp breaks silence on 'insane' Florian Wirtz transfer fee in Liverpool message

In a startling revelation, Jurgen Klopp has issued a firm warning to Liverpool's latest signing, Florian Wirtz. The gargantuan £116million price tag could weigh heavily and make him an easy mark for critics if performances falter, according to the former Reds boss.

Snapping up the 22-year-old German international from Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool have splashed out on a record-breaking British transfer fee. Klopp, while praising Wirtz's remarkable talent, couldn't hide his shock at the staggering sum in his recent Welt interview: "There's no question about it, it's an insane sum, and one that a player at Liverpool is aware of if things don't go well for two or three games."

Amidst a competitive tussle with giants like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, Anfield bosses secured Wirtz's signature, promising Leverkusen £100m upfront, with another £16m tied in achievable bonuses.

Klopp, astonished by the modern market's skyrocketing figures, admitted with pragmatism: "We all agree that we're talking about a great player here. I know I once said that I'm out if we pay 100 million euros for a player. But the world is changing.

"That's just the way the market is. I don't know exactly which position Arne (Slot) has Florian in mind for.

Klopp has been full of praise for Wirtz's talent, however, adding: "He's an outstanding player who can give any club something great. Whether he'll make the reigning English champions even better remains to be seen."

Klopp hailed Wirtz as a 'really great' addition to Liverpool, admitting to German broadcaster RTL: "It will be really, really great. I'm sure of it.

"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."

"We're [Klopp and the club] in very good contact - with some of the players who write now and then or send the occasional photo from their holidays. The owners have become good friends.

"I've also written to Arne now and then; we've only seen each other once. He was pleased with my gesture back then. And to be honest: when things started off so well under him, I briefly asked myself as a person whether I was happy that things were like this."