Latest news with #BayerLeverkusen
Metro
2 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Jurgen Klopp breaks silence on Liverpool breaking transfer record to sign Wirtz
Jurgen Klopp has defended Liverpool's decision to break the British transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. The Premier League champions completed the £100million deal earmier this month and the fee for the22-year-old Germany international could potentially become a British record. There are £16m of add-ons included, which would surpass the existing mark of £115m which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo in 2023. It is understood Liverpool will be happy to pay these 'aspirational bonuses' as it will mean they have enjoyed considerable success at elite level. Wirtz has signed a five-year contract and the capture of one of Europe's most highly-rated talents is seen as a significant coup for the club having initially faced competition from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Leverkusen had valued Wirtz at £126m but a compromise was reached last week, although the up-front fee easily outstrips the £85m deal Liverpool agreed with Benfica in 2022 for Darwin Nunez, who is expected to leave this summer. During his own Anfield reign, Klopp infamously and regularly, cast envious glances at the likes of City and Manchester United and cried foul over their spending power. The former Reds' boss, however, believes his old club are simply moving with the times and is delighted to see them flexing their financial muscle in the transfer market. 'We all agree that we are talking about a great player here, Klopp told Welt. 'I know that I once said that I'm out if we pay £100m for a player. But the world is changing. That's just the way the market is. 'I don't know for which position Arne has planned for Florian exactly. He is an outstanding player who can give something big to any club. 'Whether he will make the reigning English champions even better, however, remains to be seen.' Liverpool, meanwhile, continued their summer spree earlier this week with the addition of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. The 21-year-old is the club's third arrival this summer, following Jeremie Frimpong and Wirtz. And with Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili joining next month in a deal done 12 months ago there will be more than £200million of new talent present when pre-season training starts in a fortnight. Kerkez, who links up with fellow Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai at Anfield, is viewed as the long-term successor to 31-year-old Andy Robertson, who is a target for Atletico Madrid. It is understood the club have no intention of forcing out the Scotland international, who started in 29 of his 33 Premier League appearances last season but is in the final year of his contract. Liverpool new boy Kerkez said: 'I'm really happy. It's a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, (the) biggest club in England. I'm just really, really happy and excited. 'After this, I'll go home and in my hometown enjoy a few days, and then I can't really wait to come back and put the training kit on and start to train and prepare for the season.' MORE: Cristhian Mosquera could reject Arsenal and stay at Valencia on one condition MORE: Chelsea star could push for transfer after Arsenal and PSG interest MORE: Benjamin Sesko asking price changes again after Arsenal transfer concerns
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool agree fifth summer signing as transfer spree continues
Liverpool continue to be the busiest Premier League club in the transfer window after agreeing a deal for their fifth signing of the summer. The Merseyside outfit wasted little time in getting down to business after winning the title at a canter in 2024/25, suggesting they are not ready to rest on their laurels. Advertisement Jeremie Frimpong was the first to arrive at Anfield in a £29 million deal with Bayer Leverkusen, replacing right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. That preceded the blockbuster signing of Florian Wirtz from the same German club in a deal worth up to £116m, providing a major boost to Arne Slot's squad. Goalkeeper Armin Pecsi arrived from Puskas Akademia in a £3 million deal in early June after Caoimhín Kelleher moved to Brentford, while Milos Kerkez completed his £40m move from Bournemouth this week. Liverpool agree fifth summer signing as transfer spree continues The latest player to join the Reds' ranks is former Newcastle United shot stopper Freddie Woodman. Liverpool announced on Saturday that the goalkeeper had agreed to sign a contract with the club following the expiration of his deal at Preston North End later this month. Advertisement The 28-year-old will provide cover for Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili, who arrives this summer after Liverpool agreed a £29m deal with Valencia last year. Importantly, Woodman is a homegrown player, meaning he won't take up one of Liverpool's 17 non-homegrown slots on the UEFA squad list. Liverpool have now spent £172m, which could rise to £188m, this summer, but they are still not done in the transfer window. They have also been linked with possible moves for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. Read – RB Leipzig join chase for Liverpool midfielder See Also – Five Bundesliga players Premier League clubs should be interested in this summer Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Jurgen Klopp sends warning to Florian Wirtz and admits Liverpool fee is 'insane'
Florian Wirtz's move to Liverpool has smashed the British transfer record after the Reds agreed to pay a colossal £116million for the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Jurgen Klopp has warned new Liverpool star Florian Wirtz that his £116million price tag will put a target on his back. Wirtz, 22, has joined the Reds in a British record-transfer deal, signing a lucrative five-year contract. Liverpool fended off interest from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to sign the Germany international from Bayer Leverkusen. Klopp's former club will pay Leverkusen a fixed £100m plus £16m in potential add-ons. Despite describing Wirtz as an 'outstanding player', the ex-Reds boss can't help but baulk at the fee. In an interview with German newspaper Welt, Klopp said: "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. "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." The 58-year-old went on to hail Wirtz, who has the difficult task of improving the Premier League champions. "I don't know exactly which position Arne (Slot) has Florian in mind for," Klopp noted. "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." It's not the first time that Klopp has commented on Wirtz's record-breaking move to Anfield. Speaking to German broadcaster RTL last week, Red Bull's head of global football operations said: "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." Klopp will be able to get the inside track on Wirtz's progress thanks to maintaining a strong relationship with Liverpool. "We're in very good contact - with some of the players who write now and then or send the occasional photo from their holidays," he revealed to Welt. "The owners have become good friends." Klopp also joked: "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." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Ex-Rangers star Tillman's Bundesliga move 'at final stages'
The American, who spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Ibrox, scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 43 appearances. Tillman joined PSV Eindhoven from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, initially on loan. Read more: The move was made permanent, and after winning two Eredivisie titles, Tillman now looks set to join Bayer Leverkusen for a fee believed to be around €35-40 million, according to renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. 🚨🔴⚫️ Bayer Leverkusen are now at final stages of Malik Tillman deal with details to be sorted.. and then, all done. Bayer are confident to get deal done for fee around €35/40m. Structure of the agreement now being discussed. — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 28, 2025 Tillman achieved a career-high 16 goals for PSV last term, including three in six Champions League appearances.
The National
5 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Tillman's Bundesliga move 'at final stages' as Rangers await windfall
The American spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Ibrox, scoring 12 goals and assisting five across 43 appearances in all competitions. Tillman's move to Rangers was never made permanent, and in the summer of 2023, he joined PSV Eindhoven, initially on loan, from Bayern Munich. Read more: The switch was made long-term last summer, and a year on, after winning back-to-back Eredivisie titles, Tillman looks set to join Bayer Leverkusen. Renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reports that the 23-year-old's move to the BayArena, said to be in the region of €35-40 million, is 'at the final stages'. 🚨🔴⚫️ Bayer Leverkusen are now at final stages of Malik Tillman deal with details to be sorted.. and then, all done. Bayer are confident to get deal done for fee around €35/40m. Structure of the agreement now being discussed. — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 28, 2025 Rangers received £1.2m after Tillman's £12m move to PSV last summer. They would be due another 10 per cent of any fee paid for his services this time around, due to the deal struck when Bayern chose to end his Ibrox loan early to send him to the Eredivisie. Tillman won PFA Scotland's Young Player of the Year award in his sole season at Ibrox. He netted a career-high 16 goals for PSV last term, including three in six Champions League appearances.
