Ex-Red Meijer: 'Flo will be a diamond in the Premier League'

SHOULD Liverpool complete a club-record deal to sign Florian Wirtz, he will become only the seventh player - following quickly in the footsteps of Jeremie Frimpong - to play for both the Reds and Bayer Leverkusen.

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A deal to take the Germany international to Anfield is not yet agreed, but he has made it clear that he wishes to join Arne Slot's side. Negotiations are ongoing with Liverpool's latest offer for his services totalling £113m.

Supporters are understandably excited at the prospect of the Reds signing one of the hottest talents in European football and that includes one former Liverpool and Leverkusen star who is now a leading Bundesliga pundit!

This summer marks 26 years since the first transfer between the two sides, when the Reds signed one-time Netherlands international Erik Meijer on a free transfer from the Bundesliga outfit.

The 55-year-old, who only spent a season and a half with Liverpool and scored twice from 27 appearances, has established himself as a leading pundit in Germany since hanging up his boots.

Inevitably, he has followed the fortunes of Wirtz closely at his former club. And he is convinced the German is ready to be an instant success in the Premier League.

"Oh, I'm so excited. He will fit in directly, really! Don't worry!" Meijer told the ECHO in an exclusive interview. "But I'm also really happy that he made a choice to go somewhere else, not to go to Bayern Munich.

"That would be the easy step. And to find out 'how good am I in world football', then you have to go step up and Liverpool is a big step up.