Klopp says he can buy from Dortmund, but doesn’t know Liverpool transfer budget

Posted by

Contrary to some reports upon Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as Liverpool boss, we are allowed to freely approach the German’s former club for potential signings.

Klopp confirmed as much to the Echo, but also claimed that while he regularly discusses potential new signings with his backroom staff, he doesn’t know how much money FSG will him spend in coming windows.

SEE MORE:
Liverpool squad ranked in terms of value – Clyne £22m, Henderson £25m, Coutinho £55m

“I have no agreement with Borussia Dortmund,” Klopp outlined.

“I heard about an agreement, but no. Yet in my opinion it only makes sense to go for players we think we can get.

“So if we want to battle down the road (Manchester City)… we can pay 100 (million), they can pay 120. It’s a crazy marketplace when you start doing this.

“There are so many mothers in the world that have brilliant sons, so you don’t always have to take the guys that everybody knows

“Maybe you take one. But I have a good relationship still with Borussia Dortmund and with all the players.

“There is nothing between us and if there was a possibility that we could get one of those players AND we needed him, then we could try it.

“But there is no agreement, of course not. And there is no agreement that we can’t sell players to Borussia Dortmund!”

Liverpool have been spuriously linked to Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ilkay Gundogan and a number of other Dortmund players, but it’s not something we can expect until the summer. In fact, with Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan and Daniel Sturridge all returning from long-term injuries, Klopp has a bunch of new players entering his squad anyway.

And perhaps for this reason, he claims he hasn’t even discussed Liverpool’s transfer budget with the board.

“I didn’t ask (the owners), I’m sure we could (do something). The only answer I can give is we won’t do anything only because it’s possible.

“We only want to do something if we feel it is necessary or there is an opportunity where we cannot say no, or our situation changes in a way where we have to take players in.

“This decision isn’t for today or tomorrow, but we are always preparing for the moment. That’s what we have to do.

“I’m here from morning through to night, so what shall I do all day when we only train once?

“We sit together, we decide what we want to do, we talk about players and make sure we are prepared for the moment when we need it.

“We talk about next summer, that’s absolutely normal. But I don’t feel at this moment it would help if we take five players.

“We would only take a player if we really want him. Three injuries in one position, then you take what you can get.

“But normally you only take the player you really want.

“No decisions at this moment. We only know that it’s possible in January but not more.”

The comments suggest that Klopp will only enter the market for top talent, much like Arsene Wenger has claimed in recent years. Arsenal have brought Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to the Emirates, so we wouldn’t be too disappointed if the German does adopt the ‘less is more’ transfer tactic.

The current squad is large and talented but lacks world-class players. Liverpool should be securing certain positions with big money rather than paying £10m for a succession of ‘potentially’ top stars – which was an issue under Brendan Rodgers. Klopp has more draw than his predecessor of course, and hopefully this will show in upcoming windows.

 

More Stories Jürgen Klopp