Klopp delighted at deal of the day for £35m Chamberlain

JURGEN KLOPP is thrilled that his threeyear pursuit of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reached a successful end after Liverpool completed deadline day’s biggest deal. Having passed a medical at St George’s Park on Tuesday night, the England midfielder’s £35million switch from Arsenal was confirmed at lunchtime yesterday. He has signed a five-year deal on £120,000 per week, significantly less than the wages he was offered to join Chelsea. The last day of the window did not end with the bang Klopp had hoped for as Liverpool were not prepared to pay £92m for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar and found it impossible to do a deal for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. The Saints have maintained all summer that Van Dijk was not for sale and he reported for training as normal. Klopp continues to be an admirer of the Holland central defender and Liverpool’s interest in him will not end just because this window has closed. Yet Klopp goes into the autumn more than happy with his squad and was delighted to land Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose arrival came days after the club-record signing of Naby Keita, who will join next summer from RB Leipzig. ‘I am really, really happy we have got Alex signed,’ Klopp said. ‘Since the last game I have been waiting and hoping we could make this transfer — and when I got the news he was ours it was fantastic. I remember the first time I saw him play live. ‘It was at Dortmund in 2014 (in the Champions League) and he came on as a sub that day and made a big impact. He stood out immediately because of his pace and skills, and his attitude in such a big game for a young player. ‘I remember him chasing back to make a brilliant challenge on (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan in the box to save a certain goal. We won that game but lost the return match at Arsenal when he started and played well. I think he hit the post. ‘Since then I’ve followed him. When I heard it may be possible to sign him, I didn’t think twice. I hear a lot of talk about positions but let’s talk about the player. He is someone with really good abilities who always gives everything for his team. He didn’t make an easy decision but I think he made a great one to go on this journey with this squad of talented boys and our great supporters.’ Liverpool’s main business aside from fending off Barcelona’s attempts to buy Philippe Coutinho was a trio of outgoings. Divock Origi joined Wolfsburg on a season-long loan with the German side paying a £6m loan fee plus all his wages but they do not have to buy him. Klopp wants Origi to have a season of regular football and believes he can return to fight for a starting place. Young winger Ryan Kent has joined Freiburg on a season-long loan and Mamadou Sakho, 26, was sold to Crystal Palace for £26m. He acquired a cult following at Anfield but the move is excellent business for Liverpool, who made an £8m profit on the defender.