Despite the fact that Liverpool have conceded defeat in its attempt to recruit their top target Jude Bellingham, Jurgen Klopp believes he is “not angry” at the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group. The German insisted “This is my club” when asked if he would walk away from Anfield in the summer as a result of the club’s failure to poach his number-one transfer target Jude Bellingham.
The Reds’ manager argued that he is far too professional to become upset and that even if he did, it wouldn’t affect the financial situation at Anfield. Although he did not specifically mention Bellingham, Klopp made it plain that he does not believe it is wise for Liverpool to chase a player who may not be available or is outside of their spending limit when they need to make several significant additions in the summer.
‘I’m Not Angry’ – Klopp says he is focused on team rebuilding than Jude Bellingham blow
Ahead his team’s Premier League trip to Leeds United on Friday, Jurgen Klopp was questioned at a press conference at the AXA Training Centre about the club’s decision to switch gears and pursue alternative targets after the club withdrew from the race to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Regarding Bellingham, Klopp made a strong suggestion that Liverpool haven’t received enough motivation to think they can sign him this summer, and warned that such an unguided drive might put other significant signings in danger. He was questioned if the choice had been made above his head by the club’s owners owing to financial restrictions, and if so, how he felt about that. The German replied:
“What you want to know is as I sit here, am I angry that we can’t do this or that. No I am not. I am not, I don’t agree all the time with everything we do…but I am employed here. I am not here to be angry about things that will work out or not. If I am angry we don’t all of a sudden have more money, or the resources to do everything. So it’s rubbish (to get angry), it’s not ok – I’m too much of a professional.
“You work with it, make the best of it. We are not children. If a five-year-old wants a Ferrari for Christmas. You wouldn’t say, ‘oh that is a good idea.’ You would say that is too expensive. Anyway you cannot drive it. If this kid then spends his whole life unhappy because he cannot get a Ferrari then that is a sad life.”
There were also rumours that Klopp has long been on the list of European giants such as Real Madrid and PSG, who, unlike Liverpool, are still running in the race to sign Jude Bellingham alongside Chelsea and Manchester City. In response to the suggestion that he could choose from among clubs that could afford a signing of Bellingham’s stature, he said:
“But this is my club. Nothing. You want to suggest I quit here and wait for the next top job? Really? This is my club.”
Many Liverpool fans are irritated by the club’s failure to sign Jude Bellingham, who has been tracked for more than a year. It is unclear what type of recruitment Liverpool will be able to accomplish this summer, when they plans to target at least two new midfield players. Chelsea pair Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher, Inter’s Nicolo Barella, and Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo of Brighton are potential candidates. Elaborating on the same, Klopp said:
“Again it is clear other clubs can do in some situations more than us – I am the wrong person to ask about that, but that’s it. I am always here explaining it, and that is the bit that is not so cool to be honest. It is not my money we are talking about. It is a heated thing, but now we see, there are 12 midfielders we could sign. There are a lot of good players out there, honestly, yeah a lot of good players – and we are interested in all good players, and some of them will end up here.”