Jurgen Klopp is being praised by his friends in the Bundesliga after Liverpool secured the signing of Naby Keita for the summer of 2018.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is used to receiving praise. As one of the most successful managers in recent years he is also a popular figure in the game and amongst the media. But even the German was surprised by how much praise he got from the signing of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig.
Klopp said today ahead of the Man City game: ‘I’ve got lots of contacts in Germany and I’ve never got so many congratulations messages after we signed him.’
“Last year together with Thiago (Alcantara) they were the best in the league. He’s done that in different leagues too.”
The Guinean international was one of Liverpool’s top transfer targets this summer. The manager would have loved to have brought him in this year but is still delighted to have him next summer. It seems Klopp’s friends in the Bundesliga agree.
Klopp says he's never had so many people congratulate him over a signing (Keita). Says him & Thiago were best players in Germany last season
— Jack Sear (@JackSear) September 8, 2017
Jürgen Klopp reveals why he received so many congratulatory messages following #LFC's agreement to sign Naby Keita: https://t.co/1C5OcUtKgv pic.twitter.com/PuhlaZNi33
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 8, 2017
Watching the transfer fees of Neymar (£200m), Kylain Mbappe (£180m) and Dembele (£150m) a fee of around £53 million for Keita looks a steal. He is one of the most exciting and dynamic young midfielders in Europe. And Klopp was savvy enough to get him now before the scrum for signature next summer.
The signing was a nice way to cap a productive transfer window. It takes the edge off missing out on Virgil van Dijk as a defensive addition and eases Reds’ fears about losing Philippe Coutinho next summer. With Barcelona surely to return and Emre Can yet to sign a new deal, Keita arriving will mean next summer will not begin with sheer despair. I’m sure we can get there though!
Next: Coutinho is left out as Klopp praises Oxlade-Chamberlain