Wirtz fee 'insane' but he can 'give something great'

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he understands why the Reds have paid a club record sum for Germany star Florian Wirtz - but described the £116m deal as "insane".

Klopp ended his nine-year spell as Liverpool boss last summer before his successor, Arne Slot, won the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

The Reds have since spent big on recruitment, signing Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a club record fee.

"There's no question about it, that's an insane sum," said Klopp. "We all agree that we're talking about a great player here.

"I know I once said that I'm out if we pay 100m euros for a player. But the world keeps changing. That is how the market is.

"My part of football will always remain the game itself, but if you want to play at the top level, you can't train all your players yourself. Sometimes you need to get hold [of players from] somewhere else."

Asked if Wirtz, 22, will establish himself at Anfield, Klopp added: "Yes, although of course I don't know exactly which position Arne has in mind for Florian.

"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."