Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has already started his preparations for the New Year as he recently completed a world record £75million move for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. But the transfer window is not just about acquiring new players; this means a couple of youngsters might make a temporary move away from the club in order to get proper exposure for the upcoming season.
Furthermore, with incomings still expected at Anfield, fight for the first-team spot will be tougher. Hence, we might rightly expect some youngsters to seal a loan move in January. Talking in particular, the likes of Marko Grujic and Ben Woodburn have found first-team opportunities hard to come by and Klopp was recently asked as to who could leave Anfield this winter and the manager replied (quoted by liverpoolfc.com),
“We will see. These boys are all really close, much closer than you can see when I do the squad. We have to decide at one point if it makes sense that they stay. For a lot of them, it makes sense that they stay here because we need them. For a few, maybe it makes a little bit less sense.
“We will see, nothing is decided so far. We will see which clubs are asking and then we have to make a decision whether it is good for the boy or not and all these things. But, really, for most of them there will be no transfer window. They will stay here.”
Ben Woodburn, who turned 18 in October, has only played one game till date – an EFL Cup appearance – and although Klopp knows his club’s youngest goalscorer has high potential, he cannot offer him regular football mainly during the business end of the season where every fixture is of utmost importance. Hence, a loan would benefit the youngster a lot.
Meanwhile, the likes of Harry Wilson and Marko Grujic are under the similar category. Liverpool have already concluded their first winter arrival with Virgil van Dijk joining the Reds from Southampton. The Netherlands international will officially join the club on January 1 and will don the No.4 shirt at Anfield.
Although Klopp has addressed the defensive frailty, the fact remains that they are still vulnerable between the sticks and Simon Mignolet’s recent showings are a cause of concern.
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