Liverpool may have a transfer ‘up their sleeve’ following the decision to avoid signing RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, Reds hero Steve McManaman claims. Anfield boss Klopp decided he will not move to sign the Germany international, despite Werner previously talking up a move to Merseyside.
Chelsea are set to land the striker, who has netted 25 Bundesliga goals this season.
The summer transfer window is expected to be quieter than usual due to the affects of the coronavirus pandemic.
And while McManaman doesn’t expect Liverpool to sign any big names this summer, the Liverpool hero reckons Klopp may have an ace up his sleeve.
He said on BBC 5 Live: “I think it’s going to be difficult this year for teams to spend a lot of money in the current climate.
“Teams are losing money, we know that, there’s no gate receipts, sponsorship deals will have to be rebated.
“I fully expect there to be less money to be sent. I don’t think Liverpool will have the year they had when they bought Alisson and Virgil van Dijk but I don’t think they actually need that much to challenge again next year.
“It’s a case of picking and choosing your position, so it’s very sensible, prudent signing and maybe a couple of younger players joining the squad should suffice.
“You’d love them to go and buy a superstar but when has Jurgen Klopp gone out and bought a superstar that was at the tip of everyone’s tongue?
“Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, at the time, were signings that came out of leftfield to a certain extent.
“You never know with Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, they’ve done a great job in the past with signings and maybe they’ve got one up their sleeve for the summer.”
Many Liverpool fans are fuming the club have missed out on Werner, a proven goalscorer.
However, McManaman has revealed he isn’t surprised Klopp opted against signing the German.
He added: “It wasn’t a surprise for me. I spoke about Timo Werner a month ago.
“I think he’s a great player and can improve to be a better player, like with Kai Havertz, but if they joined Liverpool now they wouldn’t get into the starting XI.
“That’s a major problem when you’re shelling out £50/60/70m for a superstar player in Germany, you can’t then bring them to your team and put them onto the bench for half a season.
“I never expected them to turn up at Liverpool.
“I think he’s a really good player and a great goalscorer and he’ll suit Chelsea because of the forward options they’ve got at the moment.
“They’re crying out for a Timo Werner to be very honest.
“He might not get into Man City’s team, so he’s not one for them and I think it’s exactly the same for Liverpool.
“I think we just put Werner with Liverpool because of Klopp, that’s all it was.
“Klopp’s said nice things about the players but he would do as a manager as his record speaks for itself.”