Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he isn’t particularly happy about Liverpool paying such huge fees in the transfer market.
Klopp has previously been a very vocal opponent to the growing sums being paid out in top-level football. But with Liverpool now on the verge of paying £111m for Moises Caicedo, the German stands to do the very thing he railed against.
This was something Jurgen was asked about in today’s pre-Chelsea press conference. Having confirmed that a deal had been agreed with Brighton for Caicedo, Klopp went on to say that he realised he’d been wrong about transfer fees, but didn’t like it all the same.
“Everything changed. Do I Like it? No. But did I realise I was wrong? Yes, definitely, definitely,” said the Reds boss. “That’s the way it goes. It’s not great, but it will not go the other way around again. Saudi Arabia definitely will not help with that. Not blaming anybody but just it will not help with that. It’s another market with a lot of money.
“In the end we as a club just have to try to make sure that for us with our resources, the money we have we get the best possible team together. You can believe we really try everything to bring together the best team or squad for us.
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“We are not in dream land so it’s not that we can just point to players and bring them in, it’s a lot of work to do these kinds of things. Sometimes one door closes and the other opens up, that happens.
“But yes, if people want to throw my quotes from five or six years ago, then no problem. That day that was what I thought and I realise now I was wrong, easy to admit that.”
Klopp adjusts to market conditions
Jurgen is right in all aspects here. He was right when he lamented the money Manchester United spent on Paul Pogba, and he’s right now.
The unfortunate reality is that Liverpool can no longer afford not to pay these kinds of fees for players. Football has moved on from seven years ago.
The type of money it took to take Pogba from Juventus to United is now becoming common place.
Liverpool can either refuse to accept that – and keep missing out on players like Romeo Lavia – or they can embrace it and sign top talent like Caicedo.
Of course, we don’t expect that the Reds will start paying these kinds of numbers on a regular basis. In fact, Liverpool supporters may have to expect a tightening of belts for a little bit.
But every once in a while, if the needs of the squad dictate, it’s worth it to go that extra mile and get the right player.
This deal isn’t done yet and it looks like Chelsea might still have a say. But once Caicedo is a Liverpool player and doing his thing in the midfield, the fee will feel irrelevant.