Klopp talks Liverpool signing Germans; explains ‘nonsense’ media claim

Posted by

Jurgen Klopp has perhaps underplayed his own influence in persuading players to sign for Liverpool, but that’s in the man’s humble nature.

Our manager was speaking to German magazine Sport1 (cited in the Echo), and claimed he didn’t think the fact he was in charge at Liverpool would make any difference to Germans or Bundesliga transfer targets.

“I do not think the fact is that Liverpool has become more interesting for German players through me,” he began.

“We will not not sign him because he is German. That would be nonsense. We look not only in the Bundesliga. We are really global at the start, but it is much more important not where the player comes from, but that the right player is right for us.”

Klopp’s quotes are admirable, but the fact Bundesliga stars have recently spoken about him as a specific pull kind of proves he’s wrong!

Jonas Hector of Cologne recently said if Klopp called he’d have to listen. Marko Grujic said the primary reason he signed was Klopp’s phone-call. Piotr Zielinski also spoke up our boss and according to every major outlet Mario Gotze has his heart set on reuniting with Klopp at Liverpool this summer.

The latter parts of Klopp’s quotes are right, of course. If the ‘right’ target is German, this may smooth negotiations, but nobody will be targeted as a result of their league or nationality.

The advantage is simply that Klopp knows the Bundesliga inside out. You’ll remember when Rafa Benitez arrived he raided La Liga for Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso (and Josemi…) purely because he knew the players better.

Similarly, Liverpool have clinched a Bosman deal for Joel Matip, and it’ll be interesting to see which stars follow the Cameroonian come the end of this season.

More Stories Jürgen Klopp