Liverpool have smashed the British transfer record this summer, meaning they have high expectations to meet.
The Reds do not often spend very much at all, but when they do, they usually spread it out across a few players to minimise the risk involved.
This summer is different, however, and they have spent £116m on one player alone, putting a lot of pressure on Florian Wirtz’s shoulders.
Despite this, the German seems the type of player to brush this sort of thing off and will likely not let it get to him, with Liverpool also having to be pretty confident, or else they would not have taken the gamble.
Former boss Jurgen Klopp, though, is a little bit more sceptical and does not want to label him as a guaranteed success before he has even begun life on Merseyside, with the history of big-money signings perhaps being one factor to bear in mind.
Jurgen Klopp worried for Florian Wirtz due to record-breaking price tag
Often, players who have cost in excess of £100m have gone on to struggle with their new teams, likely due to the pressure of having to perform.
The likes of Joao Felix, Philippe Coutinho and Jack Grealish failed to hit the heights they previously once set, with Liverpool fans hoping the same does not happen with their new signing.
However, their old boss failed to rule this out completely and knows better than most just how hard it is for big-name players to compete with hefty price tags hanging over their heads.
“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,” Klopp said to German outlet Welt.
“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.
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“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.”
Wirtz would certainly have been the perfect Klopp player, and with Arne Slot playing similar football to a certain extent, the German hopefully has everything he needs to settle any nerves.
Florian Wirtz will shine for Liverpool
Price tags can weigh heavily but if Wirtz has proven anything in the past, it is that he is more than capable of living up to the hype.
He made his Bundesliga debut at just 17, helped his team to their first-ever league title, performed at the Euros for his nation and was even compared to Lionel Messi by his old boss Xabi Alonso – suggesting he doesn’t let the pressure get to him.
His tenacious style of play mixed with his world-class ability also makes him the perfect player for Liverpool, with many of his traits likely going to make him very popular with the Anfield faithful.
Reds supporters are also some of the most loyal and they will stick by him to give him a fair crack of the whip, something he may not have been given at Bayern Munich, Manchester City and definitely not at Real Madrid.
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