Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has taken a straightforward jibe at Arsenal’s deal of allowing Alexis Sanchez to move to Manchester United by insisting that no Liverpool player would ever leave Anfield for a top-six club that too in mid-way through the season.
Sanchez, 29, is all set to complete his move to Manchester United in the coming days in a straight swap deal which would see Henrikh Mkhitaryan travelling the other way. Also, there were early reports that Mkhitaryan was yet to agree to personal terms with the Gunners but BBC have confirmed that the move has received a green signal with the Armenia international all set to complete his Arsenal move.
Also, the former Borussia Dortmund man was spotted alongside his agent Mino Raiola at a London hotel last night and Sky Sports have quoted that “the paperwork on every aspect of deal has yet to be signed off.”
It certainly was a shocker to see United garner interest in Alexis but Arsenal played perfectly as well. Had it not been for a January deal, the Gunners would have lost the Chilean on a free transfer in the summer. Hence, it is safe to say Wenger played a perfect card.
But then again, losing a player of the stature of Alexis Sanchez to bring Mkhitaryan (with no disrespect) who failed poorly at Old Trafford is a sort of a gamble, to say the least. Speaking about the same, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed that there is no chance he would allow his star man to leave the club for another title rival and that too midway through the season.
“No Liverpool player of this squad would leave – and not just because we say it but because of their commitment to the club,” he said.
“No-one would leave to any other Premier League club during the season.
“I’m not just confident of that – I know it. It is just impossible. No player who is here will say ‘okay, come on, in the middle of the season I go there or there.’ I really cannot see that situation.‘It’s how I see the commitment of the players. Okay, we have not been together for 10 years or so.
“But while it is not just starting either, it is still fresh and the development is going the right direction. I know it’s far away from being perfect but it’s going in a good way.
“It doesn’t mean that players can’t ever leave the club, but we have to make sure that it doesn’t happen often that a player wants to leave when we want to keep him. A few players we will sell in the summer. That is part of the business. And I know that Alexis Sanchez maybe moves from one club to the other but he isn’t someone I think about. When I am asked about Liverpool, I just can’t see any player at this moment who would leave.
“That is from my point of view and nothing about Alexis Sanchez. It is no criticism on Alexis. He is a fantastic player and obviously he has wanted to leave since the summer. Now it is more likely.”
Liverpool recently sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for a whopping £142m and while addressing the same, Klopp concluded,
“Phil (Coutinho) has left us, yes, but to talk about players from this squad who want to leave for another top-six club, I can’t see it happening. I don’t have a contract with any of them saying they will never leave. But it is just my feeling.”
What’s your opinion? Do you think Klopp is right?
