Michael Ballack gives verdict on Florian Wirtz's Liverpool transfer as damning assessment made

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Former Bayern Munich and Chelsea star Michael Ballack has said he can understand Florian Wirtz’s decision to leave his homeland and join Liverpool this summer.

The 22-year-old signed for the Reds for a fee of up £116 million ($157M) during the transfer window, briefly becoming the club’s record signing, before he was eclipsed by Alexander Isak a few weeks later.

While Wirtz hasn’t made an immediate impression in the Premier League, fans have high expectations for a player chased by Europe’s biggest clubs.

Bayern was among them, with the sense in May that the German champions would win the race to sign the midfielder.

“But even for Wirtz, Bayern were prepared to put together a package worth up to €100 million.

“And as for Nick Woltemade: That's a different case.

Let's take Wirtz as an example: Does it make sense for him and his development to play in the Bundesliga for Bayern for another two or three years?

“Of course, he wins championships there

No, because the Bundesliga was overtaken by the Premier League years ago.

“That's the reality

Like Wirtz, Ballack opted to leave German soccer when he swapped Bayern Munich for Chelsea in 2006, and went on to make 167 appearances for the Blues.

Meanwhile, Wirtz has faced criticism in Germany following recent performances for the national side against Slovakia and Northern Ireland