Klopp deserves trust over Oxlade-Chamberlain move

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp deserves the trust of the fans over the club’s move for Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Aside from the clear plus of adding depth to our squad, many Liverpool fans have reservations over signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal.

Related Story: Liverpool make their move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

There are questions of his place in the squad. He wants to play central midfield but we already have Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum, Adam Lallana, James Milner and a guy called Philippe Coutinho.

There is also questions of his fitness and injury record. He has missed 513 days for Arsenal in his 6 seasons at the club. He is perhaps on his best run of fitness but, as we have seen in Daniel Sturridge, some players are just prone to injury.

Then there are those who question his ability. Alongside his injuries, his performances did not merit a regular place in the Arsenal first team for most of his time at the Emirates. It was only last season where he secured a first team spot. And that ended up being as a wing back. This perception was not helped by his poor performance on Sunday at Anfield for Arsenal.

Finally there is the cost. We are set to pay around £35 million for his services. That is a lot for a squad player. It is a huge amount for a squad player who is available on a free next summer.

Klopp Signings

So the fans have concerns. Despite those worries we should Jurgen Klopp. This is not a ‘transfer committee’ purchase, this is a Klopp purchase. He loves him. Loves his work rate, attitude and tactical flexibility. The player is full of speed and strength and is good with the ball at his feet.

Last season the fanbase were not overwhelmed with the signings of Joel Matip, Gini Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane. I don’t know if you’ve watched us in the last 12 months but those three players are the business. Matip and Wijnaldum are high-level Premier League players. Sadio Mane is world-friggin-class.

It is early days, but Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Dominic Solanke all look better than advertised. There is enough track record to think that Klopp knows what he’s doing and that Oxlade-Chamberlain will not be a dud.

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There is still lingering mistrust in our fanbase of overpriced English players after the transfer dealings of Hodgson, Dalglish and Rodgers. But Jurgen Klopp is none of those men. He is better. He is smarter. And he has earned our trust.