The loss to Manchester United has been followed by another set-back for Jurgen Klopp as he sees his bid rejected by Southampton for their forward Shane Long.
The Saints completed the signing of Charlie Austin from QPR for as low as 4 million. This led to rumors that Pelle and Long are up for sale this January.
Jurgen Klopp who has a very bad injury list specially with strikers was keen on a move for the Irish international who has scored 8 goals for Southampton this season.
Shane Long has been a useful forward for Southampton this season and is capable of leading the line. He would surely have been a good addition to the Anfield squad but Klopp was dealt a blow as Ronald Koeman rejected an 8 million bid according to the Daily Mirror.
It was reported that Liverpool will not be able to sign the forward and will have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.
Koeman said: “At the end of the season, you don’t know, but not now,” he added. “We like to make the squad stronger. That means Charlie in, nobody out.”
Saints chairman Ralph Krueger also backed up Koeman’s intentions following Austin’s arrival.
He said: “Players coming in and out of here in the last two weeks of the transfer window is not in the plan.
“I would never say never on either direction because it’s the nature of the sport; you don’t know what opportunities present themselves.
“At the moment we are pleased with the depth and Ronald has shown we have different line-ups.
“Ideally would be to keep all those names in the line-up.”
Shane Long is contracted to the Saints till 2018 and will clearly be at St Marys till the end of the season.