Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool changed transfer plans because of one player

Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool changed transfer plans because of one player
Jurgen Klopp has revealed how his Liverpool transfer plans changed after reporting for pre-season

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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Jurgen Klopp has admitted he changed Liverpool’s summer transfer plans after seeing one player in pre-season training.

The Reds completed an £150m midfield overhaul last year, bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch. But while the former two were signed at the start of the summer and Klopp knew there was a chance of landing the Dutchman long before his actual deadline day switch from Bayern Munich, it was a different story when it came to landing the Japan captain.

Sanctioning the exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho following unexpected interest from Saudi Arabia, Liverpool were unexpectedly in the market for an additional midfielder. After facing disappointment when moving for Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Andre, they eventually settled on Endo.

However, were it not for such a search, the Reds had intended to switch attention to a new centre-back, with Klopp confirming interest in such a player was on the radar the previous May. It was only after the exits of Henderson and Fabinho that the club’s priority changed.

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Klopp has since insisted that he has no intention of signing a new centre-back in January, partly thanks to the breakthrough of Jarell Quansah, despite Joel Matip suffering a season-ending ACL injury. However, such a stance could change in the summer with the Cameroonian out of contract.

And insisting that Liverpool don’t ‘ignore potential issues’ at centre-back when reflecting on their defensive search, he confirmed that the Reds decided to change their transfer plans after seeing Quansah in pre-season.

“I liked him from the first moment I saw him,” Klopp said. “But that means just what the boy offers from a physical point of view when they’re really young, 16/17/18, that’s how long I’ve known him.

“I knew he was a good footballer, which is absolutely helpful, and it’s not rare nowadays but it’s quite special how calm he is on the ball. And then it was all about when was he ready for adult football because, in that position, each challenge is a reality check.

“So you might be the best in your age group but that means nothing for the adult world because you have strong opponents and they know all the dark arts, how to bring yourself in better positions. He’s dealing with that and I didn’t expect that this quick, that’s true.

“But the pre-season was super positive, super positive. We wanted to… so we got asked a lot that we have to sign a new centre-half. And obviously we were thinking about that as well, it’s not that we ignore potential issues or whatever.

“But when we saw him, it was clear that we will not go for it. That we will have our own solution. And without knowing how much game time he will get already this year. Because of the situation and because of his development, he is obviously now a proper, proper part of the squad, a proper part of the rotation.

“It’s not about performing, they all are good, it’s about how can you share intensity and he plays an important role… It’s an interesting package. I’m really excited about it.”

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Jurgen Klopp’s unprompted praise for 18-year-old who “has everything”
December 12, 2022
Jack Sear
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s friendly defeat to Lyon on Sunday, Jurgen Klopp name-dropped one youngster who is clearly impressing him in Dubai.

Thirteen academy players are part of the first-team group that have made the trip to the UAE for the club’s mid-season warm-weather training camp.

The majority of those featured against Lyon in Liverpool’s Dubai Super Cup opener, but before the match, Klopp revealed one young player who has clearly caught his eye.

Luke Chambers, who played the final 30 minutes at the Al-Maktoum Stadium is a player the Liverpool boss believes “has everything” for a centre-back, except the physical attributes required to perform at senior level.

“When I look at Luke Chambers I think ‘wow, he has everything for a centre half, apart from a body’,” Klopp told LFCTV before the game.

His comments on Chambers are especially interesting when you consider the 18-year-old has played the majority of his youth career at left-back.

Chambers, who won the under-19 European Championships with England last summer, is also accustomed to playing in a wing-back role, with several goals and assists to his name at academy level this season.

He has, however, been utilised at centre-back on several occasions during the current campaign, most notably in the UEFA Youth League.

Chambers was introduced at centre-back against Lyon on Sunday, a position Klopp appears to have identified as his strongest one for the time being.

That may be because of his ability on the ball, with the modern-day centre-back required to be more than comfortable when in possession.

It will be interesting to see whether centre-back now becomes the position Chambers is used in most often for the under-23s, given Klopp clearly views him as a prospect in that role.

Elsewhere, in his post-match press conference, Klopp welcomed the return to fitness of Joel Matip and Naby Keita.

Both players featured against Lyon and look set to be handed more minutes on the pitch in Friday’s friendly with AC Milan.

“Very important, absolutely very important. Yeah, so far he did pretty much everything in training,” Klopp added when asked about the importance of Matip’s return.

“There was one session where we got advice to rest him a little bit, but it was not from him, it was from the medical department, [so] that’s what we did. Apart from that he could do everything.

“Looked good today, 45 minutes was again what we were allowed to use him. That’s what we did. That’s good.

“Naby’s first 30 minutes, I think, for a while. Very helpful as well, important position, important player, so that was [what] we should only use him [for], 30 minutes.

“I think against AC Milan next Friday they are probably able to play a bit longer.”

Dubai 2022, Jurgen Klopp, Luke Chambers
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