Reds loanee: Klopp recognises my ‘amazing talent’

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Taiwo Awoniyi says he was loaned out, rather than sold, over the summer because the club believe he could be something special.

Awoniyi headed to Bundesliga side Mainz after impressing in his second spell in Belgium with Royal Excel Mouscron.

He claims he would have a chance to impress in pre-season had it not been for an unfortunate injury.

But the Nigerian has taken heart from the Reds’ reluctance to offload him permanently amid plenty of interest, having been assured that he could force a way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans.

“For me, Jurgen Klopp is the best coach so far that I have met in my career,” Awoniyi, who signed a new deal in January, said, as quoted by HITC.

“I went to Mainz because it was where Klopp started. He said ‘Taiwo you can go there and make it your home’.

“He said hopefully I would get my chance there and that maybe in the next one or two years the work permit is given I could come back.

“This past summer they had the best opportunity to sell me to another club permanently because they had a lot of clubs that showed interest in me.

“But then they said they were not selling because they said they don’t need to sell me and that I am an amazing talent that could still blossom. This was the reason they kept me.”

It’s been a quiet start for Awoniyi in the German top flight, with only half an hour of football under his belt thus far.

But it’s still very early in the season, and opportunities are sure to present themselves.

Marko Grujic is another Red plying his trade in the Bundesliga this season looking to catch the eye.

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