Jurgen Klopp explains Liverpool’s summer transfer strategy

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Liverpool are “still looking” in the transfer market but insists he’s content with the squad now at his disposal.

The Reds have been notably quiet in the summer transfer window, making just one signing in 17-year-old Sepp van den Berg.

And the Liverpool manager has explained why strengthening a squad already capable of winning the Champions League has not been straightforward.

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READ: Klopp: I am “completely focused on Liverpool” this summer

“It’s not easy,” Klopp told the Echo. “I said last year that to improve the team is not easy with reasonable money. With crazy money, you always can do it – okay, you pay whatever you want, then it’s possible.

“We are not a club like that. We cannot do that. We are really wealthy but we cannot do what some other teams are doing. That’s how it is.

“But we don’t have to. We have to find solutions during the season. Yes, you find sometimes the solution in the transfer market and we have done that. I don’t have to name the players, everybody knows.

“But otherwise you have to find the solutions on the training ground and that’s what we do now.”

The Reds boss added: “We are still looking, but it will not be the (biggest) transfer window of LFC. It just will be a transfer window.

“We will see what we do, and if we haven’t done anything by the end it will be for different reasons.

“It’s about using this team. In the transfer window, you have to build a team that you think you want to go into the season with. But I have that team already.

“If we can bring somebody else in that makes it even better, we will see. But if not, this team is already there. And again we will have to find solutions at different moments.”

“We started last season with five centre-backs, Nat Phillips included. Then there was one matchday against Brighton when there was Virgil van Dijk left. Fabinho next to him.

“Had one of them gone out, then I wouldn’t have known who could do it. Who could play centre-back?

“You cannot be prepared for everything. You need a bit of luck, and we had a little bit of it in the final part of last season. We came through, won something, and now let’s try again.”

Klopp also revealed that Liverpool’s strategy is based around developing exiting players rather than simply beefing up every position on the pitch.

“Transfer strategy has to be long term,” Klopp explained. “It has to be long term.

“Short term covers the problem, but doesn’t solve it. If someone gets an injury, and you buy someone to fill the position and three weeks later the injured player is back, then you have double quality in the same position.

“Having too much quality doesn’t help with the development of players. It’s good for everybody on the outside, because they can say ‘well if he can’t play, then he can play or he could play’.

“If you’re working together all week and then three of the players (of the same quality in the same position) can’t play, they won’t get any better. It’s not just about them staying confident in that kind of situation.

“You have to create a situation where you NEED the player, you need the boys. That’s what we try. We have 100% always long-term plans. That’s what is really good about this football club.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com