Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shrugged off criticism over his transfer spending only 12 months after he threatened to quit football if the £89 million fee paid by Manchester United for Paul Pogba became commonplace.
Liverpool have shelled out over £250 million over the last 12 months – comparatively Man Utd have spent £222 million over the same period – leading some commentators to point out Klopp’s hypocrisy, but he says he “doesn’t care.”
“We don’t care what the world around us is thinking,” Klopp told the BBC. “Like Manchester United didn’t care what I said.”
The German added: “It is only an opinion in that moment. Did I change my opinion? Yes. That is true. But it is better to change your opinion than never have one.
“Whatever people say and bring it up again and again, I have had worse days in my life and worse things happen to me. We have the players we wanted. I am fine with that.”
Klopp also acknowledged that the market has changed irrecoverably since he made those comments a year ago, with players like Neymar selling for around £200 million, while his own forward, Philippe Coutinho, left for Barcelona for £105 million (potentially rising to £142 million).
“The world has changed completely,” he added. “Better players than we already have are not waiting around the corner. You can’t get the world-class goalkeeper who had a really long contract at Roma on a free transfer.
“It is not for me to say we don’t want to pay big money because, in the end, Liverpool is not successful. That doesn’t work.”
Liverpool’s transfer window
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Following on from the £75 million signing for defender Virgil van Dijk in January, Liverpool have embarked on a monumental spending spree this summer, as Klopp looks to finally secure silverware for his club.
Naby Keita and Fabinho arrived in July from RB Leipzig and Monaco respectively for a combined fee of £91 million, which could rise if various clauses are met.
Following those high-profile signatures, the Reds have secured the services of Xherdan Shaqiri for a reported £13.5 million from recently relegated Stoke City, while Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson – their most expensive recruit of the summer – has just arrived from Roma for an initial fee of £56 million, making him the most expensive keeper in the history of football.
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