Top-four fail will not stop Reds’ spend, claims Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists a failure to qualify for the Champions League will not affect his summer transfer plans significantly.
The Reds boss already knew money would be tight after a year of the coronavirus pandemic, which the club estimate will cost them £120million by the time fans return to grounds.
Their latest accounts, published this week, showed the club made a pre-tax loss of £46million to the year ending May 30 2020, and there will be furtherfinancialhurttocome.
Yet while not making the top four will have an impact in reducingtheamountofmoney coming in, Klopp does not believeitwillmateriallyaffecthis plans that much.
"I don't think so, really," he said.
"Playing Champions League obviously is massive, especially from a financial point of view for the club, so it's really important.
"If we cannot make that, thenthat'snotgood.Definitely not. I don't think it will change anythingbecausethesituation wasdifficultbeforeanditisdifficult after.
"Football is in a difficult situation. I don't think it will change a lot."
Liverpool head to Old Trafford on Sunday four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, and cannot afford any more slip-ups after late equalisers cost them wins against Leeds United and Newcastle United.
Askedhownecessaryafirst victoryatOldTraffordinseven years would be to their Europeanaspirations,Kloppadded: "More than 100 per cent. Even then if the others all win nothing changes for us.
"But without winning football games we will not end up in any kind of European competition,soeverythingisclear."