Klopp has spent big on players such as Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Darwin Nunez, but always with the proceeds of major sales or with the help of increased broadcasting revenue or significant UEFA profits. In relation to clubs such as Manchester City, Real Madrid and Manchester United, Klopp is still working under certain restrictions and if a long-term target such as Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham comes on the market in 2023, there is every chance that Liverpool will overtake the offer. . Klopp sees FSG’s exploration of a stake sale as a means of ensuring Liverpool are not left behind. “In the structure we had obviously we could spend money,” Klopp said. “We always had to really look at, ‘What did we win? And are we around it at the end?’ That was always the situation and that much was clear. We all know the two biggest transfers in the past, Alli and Virgil, we all know how it happened. We got money from Barcelona [for Philippe Coutinho] and spent it wisely, I’d say. “How we’ve done it so far has brought us to where we are. Fine. But nothing is getting cheaper. There is inflation for all of us, and football too. Sometimes you gotta spend. We are really happy to give all our young children a chance. I am so positive about the impact they will have in the future, whenever this starts. Like Harvey [Elliott] now, calvin [Ramsay], Ben Doak, Bobby Clark – very interesting. They all are. “But around you, from time to time, you have to throw in proven quality. And in an ideal world, they’re also young.” For Klopp, the key difference between Liverpool and City, especially, is that there is more risk in the transfer market at Anfield, as a big-money mistake is not as easy to recover from. Those with larger cash reserves can quickly correct mistakes in the next transfer window. “Sometimes you have to take risks and we’ll see,” Klopp said. “I have no idea what will happen, but I’m positive about it. If it doesn’t end up being positive, then I might start to worry, but I just have faith that everything will be fine. “I have a very close relationship [with the owners] and I always knew what we could and couldn’t do. Now we have to see what we will do.” Klopp, meanwhile, says he is shocked that Roberto Firmino has been left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad. “A blow, for sure. It was one for me, to be honest,” Klopp said. “It shows how incredibly good and talented this Brazil team is if you can leave a player like Bobby Firmino out. Insanity. He is fine but very disappointed.”
