Jurgen Klopp has sent a veiled warning to Liverpool’s American owners that they must be prepared to spend significant amounts of money on re-vamping his squad – regardless of Champions League qualification.
Klopp admitted “it is clear we have to do something this summer” yesterday as he digested the club’s heaviest ever European home defeat that compounded the poorest season since he took at Anfield over seven and half years ago.
The stunning 5-2 setback against Real Madrid left Liverpool, barring a second-leg miracle at the Bernabeu, facing the prospect of a trophyless season less than year after going within two wins of an unprecedented silverware quadruple and underlined the need for a squad re-build.
John Henry, Liverpool’s principal owner, stated this week that he is confident of securing fresh investment, prompting Klopp to emphasise that the club “cannot ignore” what rivals like Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are spending if they want to keep pace.
“I’m optimistic [about new investors] when John is optimistic, because that’s his business,” he said. ”My job is to make 100 per cent clear what we need from a sports point of view and then other people are responsible for giving us the resources or whatever.
“We have been in the Champions League six seasons in a row – and went to the final three times in that time – which is massive from a money point of view.
“We built a new stand, we built a training ground, and the club is in a really good place, but around us obviously a few clubs are speeding up a little bit and you cannot ignore that. We cannot ignore these kind of things. We know we have to improve and change things and we will.
More from Football
Graham Potter: 'Chelsea fans have said they want me and my kids to die but that's football'24 February, 2023
Man Utd and Newcastle injury latest, expected line-ups and key battles for Carabao Cup final24 February, 2023
Forget Kyiv and focus on the next save - how Loris Karius can thrive in the Carabao Cup final24 February, 2023“I have always the same say and the same not say. The process of recruitment hasn’t changed but I can’t decide at all about money, not one penny. But it is always the same. I don’t know whether maybe the old school managers had a budget and could work with that but it is not like this now.”
Klopp says failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League “will not be helpful” but warned it cannot restrict transfer plans that include an expected move for Borussia Dortmund’s England midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Money always has an impact but this [failure to qualify for the Champions League] cannot be that much of an impact, let me say it like this.
“Of course, it is influential but it is a summer where we have to be in the market definitely. I’m sorry that I cannot guarantee Champions League at this moment but we are fighting for it. It will be a late decision [where we finish] I guess but we have to start work [on recruitment] before we know where we will end up position-wise and European competition-wise. These things are clear here.”
Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out of contract this summer and if they all leave it will reduce the wage bill and help clear the way for new signings. But Klopp says Liverpool are not able to gamble like other clubs in the hope that new signings work out.
“The way that this club is led is by not splashing the money,” he said. ” Our transfers always have to be on point. That makes it really tricky. We cannot make four transfers before we know who will leave the club.
“It’s obviously different to other clubs, that’s how it is. It worked out for us so far and we have to see if it will work still or if we have to adapt.”
Liverpool need to shake off the shock of Tuesday’s defeat to Real because a win at Crystal Palace on Saturday evening followed by victory at home to Wolves on Wednesday could close the gap on fourth place to just one point – if Tottenham are beaten at home by Chelsea on Sunday.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/48erl1c
Post a Comment