Jurgen Klopp is being naive about Liverpool’s transfer plans
Liverpool need Champions League football
Credit Jurgen Klopp for keeping a brave face, but he must understand that Liverpool’s transfer targets must change if they don’t qualify for Champions League football. If he doesn’t realize that simple fact, perhaps he’s too naive to be the boss at Anfield.
The German manager told the press ahead of his club’s weekend fixture versus West Ham that failing to qualify for Europe’s most prestigious competition wouldn’t automatically mean that his transfer plans “wouldn’t work.” To Klopp’s credit, he did at least acknowledge the reality that recruiting elite talent would be easier the higher the club were able to finish.
As it stands, Liverpool are in serious danger of missing out on the top four. Even if they do sneak into the fourth spot, Manchester United could knock them out of Champions League football by winning the Europa League. That reality would only add insult to injury for the Reds.
I find Klopp’s evaluation of his club’s position overly optimistic. It’s not as if his club’s Transfer Committee are interested in bringing in average players. If they want to elevate their position in the Premier League pecking order, they need to add more world-class talent.
Numerous reports have linked them with players in that stratosphere. Naby Keita and Virgil van Dijk are thought to be two of Klopp’s top transfer targets. Liverpool certainly have the financial might to purchase them, but they aren’t unique in that regard. Plenty of European clubs can afford to make significant transfer bids.
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Unfortunately for Klopp, quite a few of those clubs also have the carrot of Champions League football to offer. That tiebreaker is likely going to cost Liverpool several of their top transfer targets.
That isn’t to say that the Reds won’t add any top talent this summer. Their financial resources will ultimately pay off with a solid addition or two. My contention is that they’ll struggle to sign the top stars in Europe. That ability will be limited to clubs who have qualified for Champions League football.
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Jurgen Klopp is a smart football manager, but he can’t afford to be naive about his club’s summer transfer policy. He must recalibrate his targets if Liverpool don’t qualify for next season’s Champions League.