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Jurgen Klopp won't budge on number one Liverpool targets during 'complicated' transfer window
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is reluctant to compromise on his number one targets as he navigates his way through a ‘complicated’ transfer window.
Klopp’s first choices are well established – especially Red Bull Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita – and although the German coach has not spoken directly about the player, Liverpool have had numerous approaches rejected so far.
Klopp says he has the ‘100 per cent backing’ of his owners but expecting all his deals to be complete before his side returned to training two weeks ago was ‘dreamland’.
“We pretty much have all you need. But at the end it is still business,” said Klopp.
“You go out and see the car that you have been dreaming about your whole life. “You say ‘here is the money’ but they say to you ‘I don’t want to sell the car’. You say ‘but I have got the money’ but they say ‘I don’t want to sell’.
“They say ‘go for another car in another colour’ but you say ‘that’s ok but I want this’. Things like this happen in life, not only football. It is pretty simple. You can imagine how it works. It is not that we are doing something that other clubs are not doing - that we are more silly or they are more smart.
“If I could decide alone, we would be complete from the last day of last season - done, shoot, there’s the new team, thank you very much - but that is dreamland.
“I can imagine if you are not involved it is annoying for fans. They think ‘oh my God! Nothing happens here! Everything happens there!’ We cannot think like this. I would have liked to have everyone here for the first day of training at the latest. But that is not possible anymore and probably won’t be possible again in the world, especially in England. So why should I moan about it?”
The figures in this transfer window are astronomical, something Klopp says sets the Premier League apart.
“It is always complicated,” he said.
“I read in Germany that there are still transfers in the Bundesliga for £5million. You can imagine that happening in England? No chance. Yet it is similar quality.
“You are in a circle and that is how it works here. It’s not that we don’t want to spend. It is all about doing the right things.”
Asked if he had the financial support from Liverpool’s owners, Klopp replied: “One hundred per cent. Ok, I didn’t ask if I could buy Ronaldo or the other guys from Barcelona but I am absolutely fine with this. If they could make it quicker, you can imagine they would be here and trying. It’s not about money or something like this.
“It is not about a number (of players). It is about how it fits together. We will see.
“I felt we all ready had a pretty good side last year, especially when everyone is fit and that gives me a good feeling.”
Klopp has given no indication so far he is losing patience in the pursuit of Keita – Liverpool are constantly in contact with the Bundesliga club - but there may come a point where the Liverpool manager has to rethink if there is no prospect of a breakthrough in negotiations.
“It’s all possible. It’s more likely doing that than doing nothing,” said Klopp.
If Naby Keita signs for Liverpool, He will be priced at £3.4m in Telegraph Fantasy Football. Pick your team now >>