Klopp vision a Cout above

I’M struggling with those calling Alexis Sanchez a callous mercenary for reneging on a verbal agreement he made to join Manchester City last summer after being offered more money elsewhere.

How does that work when you promise a shed-load of money to an Arsenal employee to break his contract early and move to you at a knock-down transfer fee?

Surely, if Sanchez does go elsewhere for more money, he’s merely doing to City what they wanted him to do to Arsenal. Next.

ONE of football’s most insincere statements, often heard from a TV pundit, is how they’re “really worried” for a club they have no affinity with.

But following the breakdown of talks between Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley, I wouldn’t blame anyone for saying they’re worried for Newcastle.

That entire starting line-up of men who played in last year’s Championship, that Rafa Benitez put out against Swansea on Saturday, felt like one of his statements to the board.

It said: “Until you buy me the players I want, I won’t take the blame for this relegation battle.”

Unless Ashley goes against his vow, and hands Benitez serious money over the next fortnight, expect many more statements from him. One of them possibly terminal.

LIVERPOOL’S attacking performance against Manchester City confirmed the views of those of us who sensed Philippe Coutinho’s loss would not be as great as many feared.

The way every player gave the 100 per cent needed to end an exceptional team’s unbeaten run, proved Jurgen Klopp’s point his sides need to be totally committed not to “one hero” but to a collective vision.

Coutinho’s £142million fee was way over the top, fuelled by several exceptional factors.

I can’t see it becoming a benchmark. If it is you’d have to wonder what Harry Kane, who has just become Spurs all-time top Premier League scorer aged 24, would go for if he demanded his “dream move” after the World Cup.

Surely £200m wouldn’t buy him?