Klopp now really wants £34m midfielder who turned Liverpool down in 2018, he’s up for sale

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Jurgen Klopp is personally driving Liverpool’s bid to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Gortetzka.

Goretzka’s name has circulated today as a new, surprising one on Liverpool’s midfield shortlist. And according to Football Transfers, the Reds are very much in for the German international.

They claim that the key man behind the move is Klopp, who now sees Goretzka as a ‘prime target’ to be Liverpool’s next midfield signing.

The manager is said to have been ‘vocal’ about his admiration for the 28-year-old. Above all, Klopp is reportedly drawn to Goretzka’s ability to play as a No.6, a No.8 or a No.10.

Luckily for Jurgen, there seems to be a genuine possibility of getting him out of Munich, too. With Thomas Tuchel keen to overhaul his side following a disappointing end to the season, Bayern are claimed to be ‘open’ to selling Goretzka.

The German’s price-tag is reportedly set at around £34m.

Klopp pushing for Goretzka addition

If Liverpool do move for Goretzka, it would be the second time that Klopp has tried to bring him to Anfield.

According to The Athletic, the Reds had ‘strong’ interest in signing him on the a free transfer from Schalke in 2018. As per Goretzka’s own admission, the player considered the move, but turned it down in favour of Bayern.

“They [Liverpool] were a consideration, of course,” he said in December 2020. “They’re a great club, and their development since Kloppo came has been amazing.

“We’re all a little proud of him winning the title. But I took a long time making my decision, and I was 100 per cent sure that Bayern was the right move for me.”

Having spent the past five years in Bavaria and won all there is to win, perhaps Goretzka would now see things slightly differently. Perhaps he wouldn’t.

Key to his decision could be that he’d now be a very key man in Liverpool’s midfield. Back in 2018 he’d have been a 23-year-old coming into an already established group. Now, he’d be one of the most experienced and a leader of the team.

Having spent half-a-decade at Bayern, that new challenge could be appealing. The price looks OK, the wages would surely be manageable. We’d rather someone a couple of years younger, but let’s see how this plays out.