Jurgen Klopp described his decision to sanction Rhian Brewster’s sale to Sheffield United as “unselfish” while the Liverpool money men were no doubt congratulating themselves on another shrewd deal.
Sheffield United have agreed to pay a club record £23.5million to buy the 20-year-old striker, who helped England win the FIFA under 17s World Cup in 2017, but has yet to make a Premier League appearance.
This is despite him underlining his talent with 11 goals in 22 games during a loan spell with Swansea in the Championship last season.
If Brewster does fulfil his potential at Bramall Lane, Liverpool have covered themselves by insisting on two clauses in the deal – a 15 per cent cut of any future transfer fee and first option to buy the player back over the next three years.
Klopp explained that a young striker like Brewster needs first team football to develop and with his first choice front three Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino backed up by Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and new signing Diogo Jota, he simply wasn’t going to get enough game-time at Anfield, a situation worsened by Liverpool’s early exit from the EFL Cup.
“If I am selfish that never helps really,” said Klopp. “All the young players here know that we don’t keep them here at all costs – just to play one or two games a year – that is not how we work.
“Rhian couldn’t make it (in the first team) here so far. That’s pretty much the information. But he has made big steps in his development.
“He had a serious injury (in 2018) so first and foremost we had to make sure he was able to handle the demands of professional football and he is now 100 per cent fit. He played a really good half season at Swansea, came back here and scored and made some big steps in pre-season.
“Now he needs to make the next steps and a move to another club makes sense. If Rhian had been 25 or 26 I would say you can stay here, work for your chance and we’ll see, but it’s a different situation when you are younger. Sometimes it is better for a player to go somewhere else and get more game-time.”
The sale of Brewster means Liverpool have recouped around £51m this summer following the exits of Dejan Lovren, Ki-Jana Hoever and Ovie Ejaria, which have gone some way to balancing the £73m initial outlay on Jota, Thiago Alcantara and Kostas Tsimikas.
And there are likely to be more departures before the window closes. Xherdan Shaqiri, left out of the squad for the EFL Cup tie with Arsenal on Thursday, is wanted by two European clubs, Marko Grujic is attracting interest from Southampton, while Harry Wilson is also set to leave, although a move to Burnley is understood to have broken down because the two clubs can’t agree a fee.
One player staying put is young midfielder Curtis Jones, who has received his first England under 21 call-up, with Klopp saying: “He is a proper part of this squad which is already an achievement given his age. Nobody here would have a bad sleep the night before a game if I tell them Curtis will start any Premier League match.”
Jordan Henderson is fit to return against Aston Villa on Sunday with Klopp insisting his inclusion in the senior England squad for the forthcoming matches against Wales, Belgium and Denmark, is “win-win” because his captain needs match fitness.
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