Wirtz backed to take Reds to next level ...if he can adapt to Prem

Slot preditcs 'great moments' if German can stay fit

- By PAUL GORST

ARNE SLOT says Florian Wirtz is central to the next stage of his Liverpool evolution, believing the Germany international will prove himself a world-class talent at Anfield, once he adjusts to the rigours of Premier League.

Wirtz became the Reds' most expensive transfer of all time when he completed his move from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

Liverpool will pay Leverkusen an initial £100m with a further £16m in success-based add-ons and Slot doesn't feel such a transfer is out of sync with what has been done on occasion in more recent history at Anfield.

The Reds boss, whose side kick off the defence of their Premier League crown at home to Bournemouth tonight, likened the deal to the £75m addition of Virgil van Dijk and £65m capture of Alisson Becker, both in 2018.

"I think Liverpool have done this before," Slot said. "With Alisson Becker we spent so much money, with Virgil we spent so much money, and with inflation I think it is the Liverpool signing. But if we make these signings, we also have to sell players.

"Yes, he (Wirtz) is a different profile to what we have. He might be a bit similar to Harvey (Elliott). But he is a different profile to Ryan, Macca, Dom, Curtis. That is what we wanted - to bring a different profile in rather than adding something we already had.