Florian Wirtz insists his £116m price tag 'doesn't matter' as Liverpool record signing reveals 'most difficult thing' about new challenge at Anfield

Germany international Wirtz has become the most expensive player in British football after completing a big-money transfer to Anfield from Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old playmaker has a lot to live up to on Merseyside.

An immediate impact will need to be made in order to avoid inevitable questions being asked of his value to the Reds cause, but Wirtz is adamant that he will not be wasting energy worrying about factors that are outside of his control.

Wirtz told The Times when asked if a historic transfer fee will weigh heavy around his neck: “No, I don’t think about this. I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn’t matter.

“The big challenge is to take the title again and it is the most difficult thing, so I try just to create chances and also work against the ball because I can also run a lot and I will try to bring this to the team. Then, with the ball, I hope I can make the team better and bring my team-mates into better situations.”

Wirtz accepts that he has much to learn in England, but added on facing those challenges head on: “I have not played a match in the Premier League, but I am looking forward to it and that is why I came.

“To be honest I don’t know [how it will be]. There will be some differences to the German league but I think that is also something I can learn and make me better so I am really looking forward to it. They tell me it’s more intense and more physical, every player is really strong, really fast. That is what everybody is telling me - and I’m aware of that.”

Wirtz has figured for Liverpool in pre-season, opening his goal account against Yokohama during a tour of Asia, and will be looking to land his first trophy as a Reds player on Sunday when facing FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley.