Jurgen Klopp is ‘growing increasingly frustrated with Liverpool’s transfer policy after owners FSG SNUBBED £100m January move for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly to solve centre-back crisis’
- Jurgen Klopp is reportedly annoyed at a failed move for Kalidou Koulibaly
- Liverpool boss made it clear that he wanted the 29-year-old centre-back
- Even after Napolo owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, demanded a £100m fee
- Instead club moved for Ben Davies from Preston and Schalke’s Ozan Kabak
Jurgen Klopp is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with Liverpool owners FSG and their transfer policy after they refused to sanction a January move for Kalidou Koulibaly.
Liverpool’s centre-back crisis has killed the bid to retain their title with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all suffering season-ending injuries.
The champions eventually moved to sign Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies in cut-price deadline day moves last month, but neither have featured in Liverpool’s two games since – home defeats by Brighton and Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp was reportedly refused a January move for Napoli’s £100m star Kalidou Koulibaly
Klopp had made it clear he wanted the centre-back, despite the massive price tag
But Klopp is annoyed that the club’s American owners snubbed his request to make a move for Napoli star Koulibaly, according to The Sun.
The 29-year-old never appeared a serious prospect as Aurelio De Laurentiis slapped a £100million price tag on the Senegalese international.
But the report claims that Klopp had made it clear he wanted the centre-back to solve his side’s problems at the heart of defence.
FSG, though, believe they have already acted above their means given the disastrous financial climate amid the coronavirus pandemic and have been looking to cut costs ever since the crisis hit last year.
He is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with the transfer policy of owners FSG
Liverpool have been forced to field makeshift centre-back pairings in recent weeks after Matip joined van Dijk and Gomez on the treatment table in January.
Injury-prone Matip suffered ankle ligament damage in victory at Tottenham, after van Dijk and Gomez had succumbed to season-ending knee injuries in October and November.
Liverpool belatedly added to their squad in September last year, after the season had started, with the signings of Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota.
Liverpool made cut-price moves for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies on deadline day last month
Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the season after suffering an ACL injury back in October
Thiago missed almost three months of the season due to a knee injury and has struggled to make an impression, while Jota has only recently returned to training after two months out with a knee problem himself.
The champions find themselves 10 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand and ran out 4-1 victors at Anfield on Sunday.
Klopp’s men suddenly find themselves in a battle for Champions League qualification having collapsed since being top of the table at Christmas.
They return to action with a clash against fellow top four rivals Leicester on Saturday.