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Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool haven’t missed with a big signing

Jurgen Klopp has claimed that the club are yet to miss with a “big signing” during his time at the club, insisting that even Darwin Nunez is proving to be a success at Anfield.

The Uruguayan is not the prolific goalscorer who netted 34 times in all competitions for Benfica in 2021/22 and the £85m transfer fee Liverpool agreed has been questioned by critics. But he is making an impact, particularly with assists and Klopp sees his presence as a positive.

The Reds boss has warned that Liverpool cannot afford to get it wrong in the transfer market.

“Transfers at Liverpool are different. We have to think once, twice, three times, and then a fourth. We have to be very sure that it works out,” he told Sky Sports.

But Klopp believes that the club’s record of success in that department is so far perfect.

“I don’t think a big signing hasn’t worked out. Some people might say Darwin Nunez, but he is an exceptional player and I am so happy we have him and no one else has him,” he explained.

“It was a difficult first year but he has already scored a decent amount of goals, maybe it is not enough because of all his chances, but I am absolutely happy.

“Players need time. Andy Robertson spent time on the bench when he joined. Fabinho took some time for us too. Others need time to settle, others get it straight away. Mo Salah scored in his first game and so did Virgil van Dijk – even though it wasn’t his job. It is a big challenge to get it right.

“All this heated discussion around transfers and deadline day, we have to stay calm and do the right thing. Sometimes that is tricky because of the pressure from outside. If you feel that, you panic buy.”

Klopp arrived at Liverpool in October 2015 following the dismissal of Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool’s transfer record before then had hit and miss at best. Partly funded by the sale of Luis Suarez for £75m to Barcelona in 2014, the Reds spent more than £115m on a collection of players including Lazar Markovic (£20m), Adam Lallana (£25m) and Mario Balotelli (£16m). Shortly before Klopp came on the scene, £32.5m was blown on Christian Benteke, although Liverpool did somehow make their money back on the Belgian after one mediocre season at Anfield.

But expensive flops seem to have been eradicated in recent years, the work of one of the world’s leading transfer departments formerly headed by revere sporting director Michael Edwards. Sadio Mane, the aforementioned Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, as well as the likes of Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota all cost a pretty penny. Injury-plagued Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might be the exceptions to the rule that Klopp is overlooking.

Season

Player

From

Fee

2016/17

Sadio Mane

Southampton

£34m

2016/17

Georgino Wijnaldum

Newcastle

£25m

2017/18

Mohamed Salah

Roma

£37m

2017/18

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal

£35m

2017/18

Virgil van Dijk

Southampton

£75m

2018/19

Naby Keita

RB Leipzig

£53m

2018/19

Fabinho

Monaco

£43m

2018/19

Alisson Becker

Roma

£67m

2020/21

Thiago Alcantara

Bayern Munich

£25m

2020/21

Diogo Jota

Wolves

£45m

2021/22

Ibrahima Konate

RB Leipzig

£36m

2021/22

Luis Diaz

Porto

£50m

2022/23

Darwin Nunez

Benfica

£85m

2022/23

Cody Gakpo

PSV Eindhoven

£37m

2023/24

Alexis Mac Allister

Brighton

£55m

2023/24

Dominik Szoboszlai

RB Leipzig

£60m

2023/24

Ryan Gravenberch

Bayern Munich

£34m

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