Kop net €75m Alisson
With £175M worth of new talent and current stars tied up long-term, Klopp finally has a squad ready to launch serious title challenge
LIVERPOOL are all pulling in the same direction at last, and Jurgen Klopp believes that gives them the chance to chase down champions Manchester City.
The Anfield boss steered his team to the Champions League final and fourth in the Premier League last season, but has spent big this summer in a bid to end the Reds’ wait for silverware.
Klopp has already paid out over £100million and is close to sealing a £67m deal for keeper Alisson.
He is delighted with the club’s transfer business so far, after they splashed out £43.7m on defensive midfielder Fabinho from Monaco, £13m on Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke, while £52m midfielder Naby Keita has now joined the club after a deal was agreed with Red Bull Leipzig last summer.
Klopp is also encouraged by the fact the Reds have avoided a summer of uncertainty over any of their major stars.
In recent years, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling have opted to leave, while Philippe Coutinho tried to go on the eve of last season, only to then depart in January.
This summer Egyptian ace Mohamed Salah penned a new five-year deal, amid interest from Real Madrid, while Brazil star Roberto Firmino also committed to a long-term contract.
Klopp said: “There was always a lot of change, but in both directions.
“Now it is more in one direction. That is clear. Big teams, successful teams, if you don’t buy it, you have to build it. “That means stay together, bring additions in and make the next step. That is how it is.” Klopp’s success in the transfer market gives him options in most positions after being hit hard by injuries in the latter stages of last season. He said his stars welcome the strengthening. “The team and squad is in a really good moment,” he added. “We had the situation last season where we had 12 firstteam players fit, so they know we need the depth in the squad.
“It is not like they say, ‘Bring in another midfielder, why? We are all still here’.
“But they know we need the quality and know that if we win something here, then we will win it with 25 players. That is exactly how we feel.”
Klopp is expected to make Alisson the final piece in the jigsaw as a deal for Lyon forward Nabil Fekir is now highly unlikely.
The Brazilian will replace Loris Karius as the Reds No.1, but it is understood no further signings will be made unless something changes drastically. Liverpool made their summer signings with the full knowledge Alex Oxlade-chamberlain would be unlikely to feature in the upcoming
campaign.
‘We need strength in depth. If we win something we will do it with 25 players