Gundogan’s comments about Klopp persuasion could rile Liverpool fans

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If Jurgen Klopp thought Ilkay Gundogan would slot so perfectly into the Premier League, why didn’t Liverpool make a bid for him before the world-class German signed for Manchester City…?

Perhaps we did enquire, perhaps we didn’t – but the former Borussia Dortmund star made the switch to the Etihad very early this summer – seemingly with no competition from City’s rivals.

The 25-year-old has now said he spoke with Klopp, his former Bundesliga boss, who convinced him a move to City would be a smart one, reports the Echo

“Of course I talked to Jurgen Klopp,” he said.

“We discussed a few things and I asked if I would fit in the Premier League and he said ‘definitely, definitely yes’.

“He wishes me the best and me also for him.”

City acquired Gundogan for a bargain fee of £20m (via BBC Sport), which despite the player’s injuries, seems tremendous business on the surface. He’s proven at Champions League and international level, but Liverpool are instead chasing Poland substitute Piotr Zielinski and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Mahmoud Dahoud – who is not for sale according to the Independent.

Central midfield is an area we badly need to directly strengthen, and it pains us to see Klopp in contact with Gundogan about him signing for a rival.

In truth though, we don’t know what exactly was said, and whether our manager saw a place for Gundogan in his new look Liverpool outfit – so it’d be unfair to make judgements or assumptions.

Still, if we’d have snared a player of Gundogan’s calibre this summer, every Liverpool fan would be over the moon. As it is, we sit tight and wait for developments in our pursuit of the youngsters.

(And besides… Joe Allen is proving at Euro 2016 is better than virtually anybody available anyway!)

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