Liverpool have reportedly handed manager Jurgen Klopp with a £100 million transfer budget (Telegraph) after the German managed to help the club finish in the Premier League top four. While the club have not yet reached the group stages of the Champions League, we are overwhelming favourites considering the quality of the players at disposal.
However, the latest report from the Times (Subscription needed), indicate that this £100 million budget may seem an extremely small amount of money with Liverpool capable of signing only two players from Jurgen Klopp’s wish list. Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk and Naby Keita of RB Leipzig are two of the players that the manager is very keen on. However, it has just emerged that the former will cost in excess of £55 million with Van Dijk also costing around £50 million. Hence, Liverpool are staring at the prospect of spending the entire transfer budget on two players or go after less expensive names in the hope of managing to find a great deal.
Since Jurgen Klopp came to the club almost 2 years ago, the club has had limited success in the transfer market. Sadio Mane has been a huge success, but the likes of Loris Karius and Klavan have been a disappointment. Klopp is aware that the club needs strengthening in various areas of the pitch and that the addition of two players is simply not going to cut the mustard. Admittedly, the club will be able to raise around £30 million by selling some of the existing players like Daniel Sturridge. Even then, it leaves Liverpool short of funds in order to strengthen the squad with the players that the manager wants.
Liverpool may have finished in the top four, but it was only by a one-point margin. The club also had the advantage of not being in European competitions compared with Arsenal, who just missed out on the Champions League. Next season will be vastly different with Liverpool having to compete in two games every week, while still trying to maintain the same kind of performance demanded by the manager’s intense pressing game.
Van Dijk is a target for Chelsea, who will have no trouble in meeting the £50 million demands of Southampton. If Liverpool wait any longer, Keita could also be subjected to interest from other clubs.
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