Signing Chilean would make sense for any side, says Klopp

JÜRGEN Klopp believes Manchester City did not pull out of the race to sign Alexis Sanchez for financial reasons, claiming that if a club has a chance to sign the Chilean, they should “bring him in whenever”.

Arsenal’s Sanchez is on the verge of swapping the Emirates for Old Trafford and joining Manchester United, but only after City, previously favourites for his signature, pulled out of the race.

City are understood to have baulked at Sanchez’s £35m asking price and sizeable wage demands, particularly as the player will become a free agent when his current contract expires in the summer.

When asked about Sanchez’s transfer yesterday, ahead of his side’s trip to Swansea City, Klopp suggested that any club with a chance to sign Sanchez should do so.

“I cannot imagine City leave the race because of money,” the Liverpool manager said.

“It’s not about money. Maybe it’s because there are two opportunities in Manchester and if you think you could go to one or the other, maybe one club thinks: ‘I don’t want him anymore’. I’m not sure, but it’s not about money.

Klopp added: “Alexis Sanchez makes sense for each team in the world because he’s a fantastic player, so bring him in whenever. I think it helps United as well.

“He’s a really good player but, like I said, we are not in and that’s the only thing I’m interested in. That’s it.”

Klopp is confident that Loris Karius can rise to the challenge of being Liverpool’s No 1 having placed his faith in the goalkeeper.

Karius started ahead of regular first-choice Simon Mignolet in last Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Manchester City and, despite some aspects of his performance being criticised, he is set to retain his place for the foreseeable future.

The 24-year-old was dropped by Klopp last season after a series of costly errors and has only featured intermittently since.

“It is a difficult job being a goalkeeper or centre-half at Liverpool because no one forgives you one mistake,” Klopp said.

“I am fine with our goalkeeper situation. Yes, Loris Karius could have made a save for the first goal against City even though I thought it was a world-class finish.

“He is a really good goalkeeper and we brought him in because we wanted him to play.

“There were a few difficulties [at first] but he has settled as well and there are a lot of really good things in his game which are natural and I like them and now he can show them.” Money talk: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp