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Klopp: owners backed me 100%

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rurikbird

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Jurgen Klopp insists he has had “100%” backing from Liverpool's owners in the transfer market as he revealed there could be one more signing to complete his summer recruitment drive.

The Reds boss says Fenway Sports Group has provided the financial backing for him to seal the deals he wanted in order to strengthen the squad he inherited.

Seven new faces have been added at a cost of around £70million with around £23million recouped in sales.

Georginio Wijnaldum became the latest new recruit after completing a £25million move from Newcastle United. The Dutchman linked up with the Reds in California on Saturday.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the support of FSG, Klopp told the ECHO: “100%. Absolutely, I've been able to do what I wanted.

“There was never a discussion where I had 1% of the feeling I didn't understand our situation or something. They have been really cool.

“I speak with (FSG president) Mike Gordon regularly and we're working on different fronts, working here, developing this, bringing together this.”

Left-back is the one area where Klopp is still keen to bolster his ranks.

Liverpool have been unable to agree a deal with Leicester City for Ben Chilwell, who is now expected to stay put and sign a new contract.

The Reds are considering other options but Klopp says most of the business that's still to be done concerns outgoings.

Liverpool are keen to off-load Mario Balotelli, Luis Alberto and Christian Benteke with Lazar Markovic also likely to leave.

The Reds have accepted a £13million offer from Stoke City for Joe Allen. Swansea City are also keen but have yet to match that bid.
Ryan Kent and Jon Flanagan are among those expected to go out on loan.

“We still have to do a lot of things on the selling side,” Klopp said.

“We don't want to have 500 players in the squad.

“We're in a good way. We don't need to make another three or four signings, maybe one more, maybe not.

“There's been a lot of planning. It's like a puzzle. That's how building a squad works.
“We have already bought seven players.

That's a big number, it's not that we haven't been active in the transfer market. It's all about balance.

“I've heard that people have been talking about (Ragnar) Klavan as our fourth option (at centre-back). Wait and see him play and then tell me again that he should wait until all the others are injured or something.

“Okay, it's a little bit different with Alex (Manninger). He knows his role as something of an educator for the boys.

“But he gives us opportunities to feel secure with a No 3 keeper to help John (Achterberg) with all the goalkeepers around and to allow us to send Adam Bogdan, Ryan Fulton and Danny Ward on loan, and keep Shamal (George) here to play for the under-21s. That's quite cool.”

One of the real bonuses for Klopp in pre-season has been the manner in which the club's Academy youngsters have stepped up to the plate.

We've found three young guys in our own club – Ben (Woodburn), Trent (Alexander-Arnold) and Ovie (Ejaria),” Klopp added.
“It's wonderful - really important for the club.
“In four weeks we will see they are still young. Let them go and enjoy it. Step back, train and develop. Give them the opportunity to hide again and grow. They have a lot to learn but we've already seen there's a real future for them.

“Until now the club has done everything right with these boys in terms of their education and development. I've seen it and enjoyed it.
“The past three weeks have given us a lot of good information about everyone in the squad.

“In the games they have been really fighting, really trying to play. It's not always about playing the most intensive football, but if you don't do it in pre-season, you miss a session.
“We do all this fitness stuff so that you can make the right decision in the 88th minute. You don't want it so that after 50 minutes nobody knows even what stadium they're in. You need to create a base to make the performance easier.”
 
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Very very very very very nice.

Sent from my very very very very very very nice iPhone using very very very very very very very very Nicetalk
 
He's had the backing thus far, but if we still sell the likes of Balotelli, Benteke, Allen, Alberto, Lucas and Markovic, our net spend will be pretty much zero. It could be argued he hasn't been backed based on finances as you'd believe we have 30-40m to spend
 
He's had the backing thus far, but if we still sell the likes of Balotelli, Benteke, Allen, Alberto, Lucas and Markovic, our net spend will be pretty much zero. It could be argued he hasn't been backed based on finances as you'd believe we have 30-40m to spend

Only if he wanted to spend more. I don't think he does. I think he is getting a solution to each problem he identified. When option 1 has not worked (Polish Pete), he has moved on to next option (Gini) - who was more expensive.

He's been backed.

I also think he is developing a very strong relationship with the owners - evidenced by his new deal.

If he ever decides he wants (_____) *fill in the blank £zillion player* , I think they are likely to approve.
 
He's had the backing thus far, but if we still sell the likes of Balotelli, Benteke, Allen, Alberto, Lucas and Markovic, our net spend will be pretty much zero. It could be argued he hasn't been backed based on finances as you'd believe we have 30-40m to spend
Maybe we've just had a lot of assets to sell.
 
Depends though. If we've signed the players he wants and he's happy with the squad then it doesnt matter uf we have a zero net spend. We did have a bloated squad.

It also means that we've got money to spend late in the window if someone quality becomes available.
 
He's spent a fair amount and hasn't actually sold that many players (yet), so I suppose one could say there hasn't been as much overt "sell before you buy" chat yet; the deals are done, and there will probably be another arrival. Hopefully two.

I suspect that most of the transfer business we do before the window shuts will be outgoing though, as players like Benteke, Lucas, Markovic, Allen, Balotelli are all available for transfer, so if we add up the finances, transfer fees and wages in/ out, to go with the players already gone like Ibe, Toure, Smith, Skrtel, Tex, Bogdan etc, we may well see quite a small net spend.

I suspect that the figure will depend on what kind of fee/ loan deal we get for Benteke etc, if indeed anyone stumps up the cash required.
 
In fairness, net spend should have nothing to do with it. If he gets the green light for every signing he wants then he is getting the backing and that's all that matters
 
I suspect Klopp already knows his "net spend" budget from the bosses, and isn't inclined to over pay. Anyway, even if he'd like a little more he isn't the sort to bitch about his limitations so we will never know.

Which is the way things should be.

More importantly, there seem to have fairly limited influence from 'external' sources on who Klopp should spend the money on, who he should sell etc.
 
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