£60m player in trouble with his club, after publicly admitting he’d love to play for Jurgen Klopp – journalist

Dominik Szoboszlai is in trouble with RB Leipzig after publicly admitting he’d love to play under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

The controversy stems from an interview Szoboszlai did with Hungarian outlet Index earlier this week. During that exchange, the 22-year-old expressed a desire to work with Klopp.

“It would certainly be a special experience to work under Klopp,” he said. “As it would be under [Pep] Guardiola or Jose Mourinho. I don’t know what they would be able to get out of me. Proportionately, however, relatively few footballers are given all this [opportunity]. Only the best. I believe I can reach that level, and it would be great to work with any of them one day.”

Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

As journalist Christian Falk reports for CaughtOffside, Leipzig weren’t best pleased with Szoboszlai’s comments. With a cup final to play against Eintracht Frankfurt tonight, they reportedly summoned the player to explain himself.

“Dominik Szoboszlai’s intentions to leave Leipzig cause unrest at RB shortly before the cup final,” Falk writes. “The offensive-player had to report to sports director Max Eberl and coach Marco Rose, because he gave an interview. In the interview he said that he dreams of working under Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola. He thinks these coaches would make him even better.

“Background: The midfielder has a release clause of €70m [£60m] in his contract. Liverpool and Manchester City could pay that amount. With Christoph Baumgartner from Hoffenheim, Leipzig already has a replacement for Szoboszlai on the list.”

Szoboszlai makes himelf available

Whether Liverpool can pay Szoboszlai’s release clause and whether they want to may be two different things this summer.

Theoretically, the £60m fee would not be out of their reach. Having already decided not to pursue a move for Jude Bellingham, that seems to be more-or-less the price range the Reds are shopping in.

As a result of that, and their obvious, burning need to bring in midfielders, it’s easy to see why they’ve reportedly been scouting Szoboszlai.

Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images

The Hungary international has had another good campaign with Leipzig. Having joined from RB Salzburg in 2021, he’s bagged identical figures in his two full Bundesliga campaigns so far: 6 goals, 8 assists.

With these numbers in mind, Szoboszlai’s attraction to Liverpool is obvious. In Klopp’s current squad, they don’t possess a midfielder capable of hitting anything like those numbers.

The imminent arrival of Alexis Mac Allister should hopefully remedy that, but still, you can never have enough goals.

Szoboszlai himself would clearly jump at the chance of an Anfield move, and the presence of a release clause does make things easier. So, if Liverpool fail to land any of the player’s who seem to be at the top of their list this summer, it may be wise to grant Szoboszlai his wish.

READ NEXT….

Liverpool star omitted from international squad for second time in a row

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been omitted from the Uruguay squad for their upcoming international fixtures.

Former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is now the man in charge of La Celeste, and he’s named his first squad since taking the job last month, with no place for the 23-year-old marksman (as per @Uruguay on Twitter).

As per Liverpool Echo, the ex-Benfica predator has been left out for the friendlies against Nicaragua and Cuba due to injury, with a toe problem also ruling him out of the Reds’ final three matches of the season.

It’s the second international break in succession that Nunez has missed out on getting the call from Uruguay, with an ankle problem precluding him from representing his country at the end of March.

READ MORE: Alongside Thuram: Transfer reporter says league-winning midfielder is ‘high on the agenda’ for Liverpool

READ MORE: ‘He’s got high aspirations’ – Transfer insider insists 10-cap Liverpool ace ‘needs to go’

On a personal level, it’ll obviously be disappointing for the 23-year-old to miss a second successive international window through injury, even if it isn’t for competitive action.

However, as compassionate as Jurgen Klopp will be for the player, he may well view it as a positive for Liverpool, as it means the striker will get an extended summer break before the start of pre-season, all the more so having not played since early May.

It would’ve been incredibly galling for the German if Nunez picked up a more serious injury problem in summer friendlies against countries who, with the greatest due respect, are ranked 140th and 165th in the world (FIFA).

Reds fans may be even more relieved that he’ll miss this month’s games when considering that Uruguay will be competing in the Copa America next June, a tournament in which the 23-year-old is very likely to feature.

It’s a blow for the player, but can probably be considered an inadvertent stroke of good fortune for Liverpool as a whole.

You can view the Uruguay squad in full below, via @Uruguay on Twitter:

📋 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗦

Lista de convocados por Marcelo Bielsa para la Fecha FIFA de junio. #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/R1TCqH1KIt

— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) June 2, 2023

📚 EOTK Insider: The two-time gold medalist who is the only man to sign for Liverpool and Everton on two separate occasions

[embedded content]