Why Mourinho should take notice of Klopp splashing the cash...
IT was a comment Jose Mourinho would describe as ‘non ethical’. A comment that left Paul Pogba bemused following his then world-record move from Juventus. A comment, unprovoked, Mourinho would remind reporters about nearly 18 months later following Liverpool’s £75m signing of Virgil van Dijk.
“I would even do it differently if I could spend that money. The day that this is football, I’m not in a job any more,” Klopp hissed in August, 2016 after United paid £89.3m to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford.
Rest assured Liverpool fans, the German has no plans to step down at Anfield. In fact, he is doing whatever is necessary to finally land a trophy, something that has eluded him since rocking up in Merseyside in 2015.
Having once baulked at premium transfer fees, Klopp’s stance has dramatically changed in a post-Neymar market. The profile of targets has not necessarily shifted – players under 25 who can be improved – but the price Liverpool are willing to pay certainly has.
In his first full season at the club, Klopp spent just £62m. That outlay more than doubled to £150m in his second and could well exceed that figure this summer with £87m having already been splurged on Naby Keita and Fabinho.
Aided by Philippe Coutinho’s sale to Barcelona, United’s bitter rivals have spent £157m on just three players – Keita, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho – in the last year and they are not finished yet.
A quality goalkeeper is top of Klopp’s summer wishlist and any move for Roma stopper Alisson would make him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.
Then there is the small matter of Coutinho’s belated replacement, Lyon star Nabil Fekir, who will surely become Klopp’s most expensive ever forward if a deal can be struck.
No longer is Klopp turning his nose up at big fees. And he has already said as much.
“If the player is the right player this club will pay big money,” he told reporters in March.
Of course, Liverpool fans will point to the success of the majority of Klopp’s big signings and how he has brought on a number of young players, including Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Also, the German has helped to balance the books by bringing in around £217m in transfer fees but he will not have wanted to lose his talisman, Coutinho, who made up nearly half of that total.
Where does this renewed threat from Liverpool leave United as they, too, look to close the gap on City?
Mourinho has already vowed not to do ‘anything crazy’ this summer and despite all these links with Gareth Bale, United would have to seriously adjust their budget to be able to sign the Real Madrid superstar and their priority targets.
Crucially, compared to Liverpool, losing a key asset to fund a summer spend is not an option. Mourinho has already vowed that there is ‘no chance’ United will sell their best player, David de Gea.
One thing is for certain, though. The north-west has a new big spender.
And they are not from Manchester.