Klopp’s Defiant Note Ahead of Liverpool’s Summer Transfer Window: ‘We are still…
Jurgen Klopp has indicated unequivocally that Liverpool would remain a’very desirable’ club to sign for this summer, even if the Reds fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.
A six-game winning streak has propelled the Merseysiders back into Premier League top-four contention, but Newcastle and Manchester United, who are third and fourth, each have a game in hand.
The German remarked in his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s trip to Leicester that, while missing out on Europe’s premier club competition will make it more difficult to entice players, Anfield remains a desirable location for many footballers.
Klopp told reporters, “When I talk to a player, if I’m allowed, which is rarely the case, you can tell if they’re interested because we’re not 100% in the Champions League next season and they’d know that.” We can’t promise anything for next year, but everything else is the same.
“It is a fantastic football club. We are still Liverpool and very attractive for a lot of players. I am not concerned about that. Of course it is more difficult without Champions League.”
It’s no secret that the greatest players in Europe want to compete in the Champions League, therefore for clubs like Liverpool, participation in that competition is critical.
The Reds will almost certainly have to settle for Europa League football next season, but perhaps future summer transfer targets will look at what the club has accomplished overall during Klopp’s stay at Anfield.
Whereas the 55-year-old took over a squad that was miles away from even competing for league titles in 2015, they’ve since gone on to be champions of England once and come within a point of winning it twice more, despite point totals of 97 and 92.
Not to mention three Champions League final appearances (one win) in five years, as well as victories in the Club World Cup, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Under Klopp’s guidance, players such as Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Mo Salah, and Sadio Mane have emerged and flourished to the point where they are regarded as among the finest players in the world in their respective positions.
Even if Liverpool falls short of a top-four finish this season, you’d expect that potential new arrivals will be drawn to the club’s near-unrivale history, both in recent years and stretching back many decades.
Discussion about this post