- Leroy Sane admits Jurgen Klopp tried to sign him for Liverpool
- Reds boss was long-term admirer of the German winger
- Klopp also tried to sign Manchester City’s İlkay Gündoğan
- SEE MORE: Liverpool ‘locked in talks’ for Arsenal target
Leroy Sane admits Jurgen Klopp tried to sign him prior to his move to Manchester City in August 2016.
The winger’s glowing reputation with Schalke in Germany had seen him become a long-term target for Klopp, who tried to sign him during his time in charge of Borussia Dortmund and in his first year with Liverpool.
Sane subsequently opted for a move to City, where he has since thrived as one of the Premier League’s most exciting young attacking talents.
Discussing Liverpool’s interest in him, Sane told the Guardian’s Jamie Jackson: “Yes, I was also talking with them.”
“He did a good job at [Borussia] Dortmund—I met him when he was there. He’s a good guy, nice guy—honest. He [has] worked well with Liverpool.”
Sane and his City teammates will travel to Anfield this Sunday, where Liverpool wait as the next serious threat to their unbeaten record.
The 22-year-old promises to be a key figure and the next significant test of Joe Gomez’s defensive capabilities on the right of Liverpool’s back four.
With the Reds’ defence likely to adopt a deep line, the compact space in central areas could see Sane’s width exploited as City’s main route to goal.
Whilst Klopp prepares to deal with one flying wide-man, he also prepares to welcome one back in the form of 23-goal Mohamed Salah.
The hosts boast the attacking fire power capable of inflicting City’s most intense defensive challenge this season, with some neutrals having tipped Liverpool as the team capable of derailing the likely champions’ winning streak.