Jurgen Klopp is preparing for another summer of upheaval as he intends to bring in more players to turn Liverpool around. The Reds were touted as Premier League champions after the first quarter of the season but have steadily lost pace and now are struggling to make it to the Champions League spots.
In his first summer transfer window with the club, the German actually brought six new players to the club while letting go of 10 stars. Big money signings such as Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane have done well at the club but they still have not been able to consolidate a top four position this season even without European football.
Even though the Reds have spent heavily to bring in reinforcements, the lack of quality and strength in the side saw them fall off the pace.
The lack of quality players certainly hurt the Reds in the start of 2017 as an injury to Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane leaving for the African Cup of Nations saw them fall behind Chelsea in their bid to win their first ever Premier League title.
Klopp was speaking about the transfer activity the Reds need to do in the summer as the club has been linked with players such as Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao, Naby Keita of RB Leipzig and Moussa Dembele of Celtic, apart from a host of Bundesliga talents such as Christian Pulisic, Julian Brandt and Mahmoud Dahoud.
“We know what we need to do,” said Klopp. “Improving the players that are already here is important and another part of the plan is transfers. Are we looking for players? Yes. We know what we want and are working hard.”
When asked about the net negative spend in the last summer window, Klopp added:
“We didn’t do the transfers last year to have a positive transfer record. A squad is fluid, players come in and go out. Of course we will spend money this time — we will have earned money.”
Klopp did believe his side was strong enough at the start of the season but injuries reduced their options throughout the season.
“It looks now as if the squad wasn’t big enough but at the start of the season we had Ingsy [Danny Ings] who got an injury and Daniel Sturridge has had a few problems. So when Phil [Coutinho] was injured we didn’t have enough options. We didn’t sell Joe Allen and Christian Benteke because we needed the money. They wanted it.
“Joe wanted to play more than I could guarantee. Benteke at his best is a player who could have helped us, for sure, but not a Benteke without confidence.
“You can keep all the players but it doesn’t help if they don’t perform. It is a risk you take.”
Klopp also brought up the fact that he has won things in the past as he looks to break his duck with Liverpool. The Reds did face defeat in two cup finals last season but faltered majorly this time around. But the German tactician is positive about winning trophies at Anfield.
“I have won a few things in the past and that is good and now we work on winning things here.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx7ga_L9CiA
