Latest news with #TomWerner
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool Chairman Reflects on the Pursuit of Florian Wirtz and Summer Strategy
Tom Werner Lifts Lid on Wirtz Deal and Liverpool's Summer Ambition Margins That Matter in Elite-Level Recruitment In a transfer market dictated by fine margins and even finer balancing acts, Liverpool's capture of Florian Wirtz could have gone another way entirely. As chairman Tom Werner admitted in a revealing interview with the Liverpool Echo, the record-breaking deal that brought the German playmaker to Anfield for £116 million came perilously close to falling apart. Advertisement 'There was a point in the process that we thought we had stretched to a generous proposal and if we thought Leverkusen wanted 20% more then we may not have been able to get there,' Werner explained. That admission pulls back the curtain on the reality behind elite-level transfers. Even for Premier League champions, there are financial thresholds, and Liverpool's willingness to stretch those boundaries underlines the faith placed in Wirtz's potential and the club's broader strategic vision. Photo: IMAGO Confidence in Arne Slot and Recruitment Team This summer represents a major turning point for Liverpool, not just in terms of new faces, but in how authority is delegated and trust is embedded. Werner was crystal clear on where responsibility lies. Advertisement 'We (FSG) do not meddle in those kinds of decisions,' he said. 'We have full confidence that Richard [Hughes] and Arne [Slot] are being extremely careful and that if they bless something or recommend something then we are going to support.' Slot, having stepped into the immense shoes left by Jürgen Klopp, has quickly earned backing at boardroom level. He has already overseen the signings of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, bolstering Liverpool's flanks alongside the Wirtz headline deal. Refresh Over Repetition Werner also touched on a key principle underpinning Liverpool's squad-building philosophy: evolution over stagnation. Advertisement 'One of the things which is a danger point is if you bring back the same squad because I think it is just important to alter the chemistry to bring in new faces,' he stated. Photo: IMAGO Last summer, Liverpool opted for restraint, a decision that drew criticism in some quarters. Werner acknowledged the scrutiny: 'There was a lot of noise last year that we didn't go out and sign somebody for £100m. But Arne felt the right thing to do was work with the squad he has.' This time, the approach has shifted decisively. Liverpool have invested, with clarity, with conviction, and with trust in the system they've put in place. Wirtz Carries Weight of Expectation With 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances last season, a Bundesliga Player of the Year award, and widespread recognition as one of Europe's finest young creators, Florian Wirtz arrives with the weight of expectation. Advertisement Werner captured the mood with cautious optimism: 'If Wirtz is half the talent that the media and the analysts say then it will be the right decision!' This is not a club chasing headlines. This is a club, under Slot's guidance, doubling down on its identity while embracing evolution. The Wirtz deal, nearly lost in the margins, may well prove pivotal to Liverpool's next chapter.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'No wonder Real Madrid are delighted' – Liverpool chief reacts to Trent Alexander-Arnold exit
In the last couple of months, there has been a lot of reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold swapping Liverpool for Real Madrid. The defender joined Los Blancos at the start of this month for a fee of €10m, and he has already played three times for his new club at the Club World Cup. Alexander-Arnold, who has since revealed his reasoning behind making the move, has attracted strong criticism from Liverpool supporters, but the president of the Premier League champions has not joined in on this. Liverpool president gives thoughts on Trent departure Speaking to Liverpool Echo (via Diario AS), Tom Werner gave his thoughts on the matter, explaining that he does not hold the decision against Alexander-Arnold. Advertisement 'We respect the fact that Trent wanted to move on. I recently told someone this story. I saw Trent on the final weekend of the season with Billy Hogan (Liverpool CEO) and I just wanted him to know personally that as a club, we are grateful to him for his contributions. He showed me a photo from when he was seven years old and he was in the quarry. I have a lot of affection for everything he has done. Now it's time for him to move on and for us to look for his replacement.' Image via Emilee Chinn – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Werner also reacted to the fans' frustrations with Alexander-Arnold choosing to run down his contract before joining Real Madrid. Advertisement 'I understand the feelings of the Liverpool fans and their disappointment. We are disappointed too, but that is overshadowed by the wonderful memories I have of him. I will never forget that corner he took against Barcelona. It was a masterpiece. As a football fan, seeing his assists, his passes… No wonder Real Madrid are delighted!' It has been a mixed start to life at Real Madrid for Alexander-Arnold, who has started a new chapter in his career. For €10m, it is certainly a very good piece of business for Los Blancos, who will hope that he continues his Liverpool form with them.
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Mbeumo CHOOSES United over Spurs, Gyokeres BOOST, Ndidi eyed as clause emerges
Red alert Liverpool claim they now rival Manchester United with one billion fans worldwide while becoming the most watched club in the Premier League. Old Trafford part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe boasted that the Red Devils were followed by that staggering global number as he launched plans to build a new £2billion stadium in March. But Anfield chairman Tom Werner has the figures to prove that his 'relentless' club not only finished top in the title race last season but also left their bitter rivals for dead in the TV viewing stakes as well. He insisted: 'We are very aware of the global power of Liverpool. The club's reach around the world is by far the strongest in the Premier League. 'We're the only Premier League club to surpass 500million views on television [by March 2025 from August last season]. 'Last season on social media we generated 1.7 billion engagements. That's not unique engagements, but it's still a huge number. 'Many Americans still don't appreciate the global power of football but over the next ten years I think the Premier League is going to be huge in the US. 'We think there could now be as many as a billion people around the world who follow Liverpool. 'There is a special connection with the fans. You feel it at the games at Anfield, when they start to sing You'll Never Walk Alone. It's deep and emotional.'
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Liverpool chief breaks silence on Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure to Real Madrid and reveals his disappointment behind the decision
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has revealed what he really thought about Trent Alexander-Arnold 's controversial decision to join Real Madrid. The defender caused uproar among the Reds fan base when he revealed he would be leaving the club for Spain, with it initially looking like he would be departing for free after a 20-year stay at his boyhood club. However, Arne Slot 's side did secure a £10million fee from Madrid for Alexander-Arnold to join them early and therefore play in the Club World Cup. Nevertheless, many Liverpool fans were left incensed by Alexander-Arnold's move, as they believe it was done in bad faith and did not leave the club with sufficient funds to replace him. And now, Werner has conceded that he and other club chiefs shared the disappointment of many fans. The 75-year-old businessman diplomatically thanked Alexander-Arnold for his contributions, but could not completely hide his emotions. 'We do respect the fact that Trent has moved on,' Werner told Liverpool Echo. 'I told someone recently this story about seeing Trent on the last weekend of the season, with Billy [Hogan, chief executive] and I just wanted him to know from me personally we are and were as a club thankful for all his contributions. 'He showed me a picture when he was seven years old, when he was a young kid at the academy, and I have a lot of fondness for all that he has done and so it is time for him to move and time for us to replace him. 'We do wish him well and I understand the emotions of supporters who were disappointed and we were disappointed too but it is overshadowed by my wonderful memories of him.' Werner went on to share a standout memory of Alexander-Arnold in red, and reminisced over his assist to Divock Origi in the 2019 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Alexander-Arnold quickly took a corner to catch Barca's defence napping, which was tapped in by Origi. The goal sealed a historic 4-0 win at Anfield and overturned a three-goal deficit from the first leg. 'I'll never forget that pass he made, the corner he took, for the fourth goal against Barcelona. 'That was just a work of genius and as a football fan, watching some of his assists, the way he would pass the ball 30-plus yards to a specific point and create a goal was wonder Real Madrid are delighted.'
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Liverpool chief claims club now have 1BILLION fans worldwide and are more watched than Man Utd
LIVERPOOL claim they now rival Manchester United with one billion fans worldwide while becoming the most watched club in the Premier League. Old Trafford part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe boasted that the Red Devils were followed by that staggering global number as he launched plans to build a new £2billion stadium in March. 5 5 5 But Anfield chairman Tom Werner has the figures to prove that his 'relentless' club not only finished top in the title race last season but also left their bitter rivals for dead in the TV viewing stakes as well. He insisted: 'We are very aware of the global power of Liverpool. The club's reach around the world is by far the strongest in the Premier League. 'We're the only Premier League club to surpass 500million views on television [by March 2025 from August last season]. 'Last season on social media we generated 1.7 billion engagements. That's not unique engagements, but it's still a huge number. 'Many Americans still don't appreciate the global power of football but over the next ten years I think the Premier League is going to be huge in the US. 'We think there could now be as many as a billion people around the world who follow Liverpool. 'There is a special connection with the fans. You feel it at the games at Anfield, when they start to sing You'll Never Walk Alone. It's deep and emotional.' Werner puts Liverpool's growing global popularity down to the way Slot's predecessor Jurgen Klopp helped the club plan for the future without him – and how the Dutchman seamlessly replaced him last summer. Viktor Gyokeres to Liverpool LATEST as Reds sweat on Alexander Isak | Transfers Exposed As he oversees Slot's summer spend on a re-build that has already cost £170m including £116m Florian Wirtz, Werner explained: "At the LFC Foundation Gala Ball, Jurgen was talking about how relentless the job is. "To be fair and complimentary to Jurgen, he wanted to transition in a very orderly way and he left the club in very good shape and Arne didn't feel as though he needed to bring in three or four new players. 'What's was so special about Arne is that he's very authentic and he is not trying to be the next Jurgen Klopp, the next Pep Guardiola. 'He is his own man and he is going to approach the club in his own sincere and thoughtful way. 5 5 "It is an exciting time right now but we wake up every day and I keep using the word relentless. "We want to win more trophies, we don't want to just appreciate what we have done. 'We are hungry to be more successful and what is exciting is that the league is tremendously competitive and we think it will be a challenging season."
