JURGEN KLOPP has warned the Premier League that £50million new-boy Naby Keita will hit the ground running as he looks to bring the title back to Anfield next season.
Klopp may have guided the Reds into the Champions League Final, but he is aware that the fans are desperate for the 28-year wait for the championship to come to an end. Keita’s arrival from RB Leipzig will be a big statement of intent.
And the Kop boss has invited the 23-year-old Guinea midfielder to be his guest when Liverpool take on Real Madrid in Kiev.
He hopes Keita (left) can help him conquer the Premier League – and is ready to splash the cash again to make sure his team can challenge for the title. Klopp said: “If Naby is reading this and he wants to come to the final, he is invited!
“Hopefully, he will have a big effect on the team immediately because of his quality.
“One thing for Naby is that he doesn’t play the World Cup, so he will have a full pre-season, which will help him a lot. Signing him is really good and we will probably sign a couple more players because we have to strengthen the squad.
“To bring in players who are 200 per cent better than the players we already have will be quite difficult, but we still need to do a few things.
“I know we had a problem in the winter. Philippe Coutinho left and Adam Lallana was injured and then Emre Can disappeared with injury. The boys still did brilliantly, but, of course, we will still sign players.”
Liverpool will virtually guarantee a top-four place if they take a point from Chelsea today or beat Brighton next weekend, thanks to their vastly superior goal difference.
But Klopp would ideally love to be defending the Champions League next season.
Cox TRIBUTE: Team banner to fan Sean recovery. His family request privacy in this matter.”The 76-year-old Scot is the most successful manager in British football history. He won 38 trophies in 26 years at United before retiring in 2013 having won the Premier League for the 13th time.Scotland manager Alex McLeish, a former player of Ferguson’s at Aberdeen, said: “None of us are immortal but Alex is a fighter and I’m certain he can come through this and make a full recovery. My thoughts are with Cathy and the family.”Peter Reid added: “It’s sad news but Sir Alex is a fighter. We are all rooting for him and hope he can make a full and speedy recovery.”Paddy Crerand, European Cup winner with Manchester United in 1968 and former Scotland and Celtic star said: “Of all the people you would imagine something like that happening to Sir Alex would be the last one.”Southampton boss Mark Hughes, who played under Fergie at United, said: “I wish him all the best.”Gary Lineker tweeted, “Sorry to hear the news that Sir Alex Ferguson is seriously ill in hospital. Wish him all the very best.” with Nemanja Matic, Willian was one of two Chelsea players Mourinho wanted to sign when he joined United after leaving Stamford Bridge.Mourinho is a fan of Willian’s speed, team ethic and strong mentality, but he faces a battle to persuade Chelsea to let the Brazilian, 29, go.United would want £40m cash from Chelsea, with Mourinho valuing Martial (right) at £80m and Willian worth £40m. The Old Trafford hierachy are in no hurry to allow Martial to leave, but Mourinho has become increasingly frustrated that the 22-year-old – signed from Monaco in 2015 – is not developing.Alongside Marcus Rashford, Martial failed to impress, standing in for the injured Romelu Lukaku, as United suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Brighton on Friday night.