Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has claimed that he does not "agree with everything" that FSG do in the aftermath of his side's brave call over Jude Bellingham.
The Reds have made the decision to pull out of the race for the former Birmingham City man after being left concerned with the price that they could end up paying for him. Whilst Klopp has insisted that he respects the club’s stance over transfers, the German has made it clear there is an element of disappointment.
Liverpool ’s midfield is in dire need of some investment and Bellingham would have been a perfect addition. It is not the first time that Klopp has been left disagreeing with FSG's when it comes to transfers. Here's a look at previous examples of the manager and owners being on different pages.
Jude Bellingham call
The inspiration behind this piece, the Dortmund midfielder is arguably one of the most exciting young players in world football. Since arriving in Germany from Birmingham in the summer of 2020, the 19–year-old has shone in the Bundesliga, whilst also making an impact on the international stage with England.
There were suggestions that the Reds saw him as an ideal addition to the heart of midfield - supporters pointing to his close relationship with Trent Alexander-Arnold as encouragement that a move to Anfield could happen. Klopp has regularly admitted his admiration of Bellingham in the past.
He won’t get the opportunity to coach him in the immediate future though with the Reds backing out of the battle to sign him. With transfer funds limited, it has been decided to focus attentions on a more full-scale rebuild with multiple signings.
Have Liverpool made the right decision regarding Jude Bellingham? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Timo Werner hesitancy
From one Bundesliga talent to another now, Timo Werner could certainly have ended up becoming a Liverpool player before his eventual switch to Chelsea. The Reds were regularly linked with the German forward and it was suggested that he had held talks with Klopp regarding a move to Merseyside in the summer of 2020.
He was clearly a fan of his compatriot and it looked as though Werner would be an exciting addition to Liverpool’s attack coming into the 2020/21 season fresh off the back of a 34-goal campaign in Leipzig. The striker did seal a £47.5m move to the Premier League but not to Liverpool - Chelsea moving for his services instead as Liverpool hesitated over a deal, something that was no surprise given the financial impacts of the Covid pandemic.
There's little doubt that, at the time, Klopp was keen on Werner and would've liked to sign him if FSG had made the funds available, but it was not to be. It didn’t quite work out for the German international at Stamford Bridge. He returned to Leipzig after just ten Premier League goals across two seasons and now appears to have rediscovered his mojo back in his homeland.
Georginio Wijnaldum's exit
Whilst not an incoming transfer, Klopp was left dismayed with the departure of Georginio Wijnaldum. The Dutch midfielder had been a trusted custodian at Anfield over what was a hugely successful period.
He helped the Reds to the Champions League, Premier League and more. However, the Reds failed to agree fresh terms with the former Newcastle midfielder and he ended up leaving Anfield on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
Wijnaldum's exit was a product of the strict wage policy which has generally been in place under FSG. Unwilling to match offers elsewhere, Klopp had no choice but to see his vital midfield cog walk out the door.
Almost two years down the line, Liverpool still haven’t replaced Wijnaldum who has since moved to French giants Paris Saint-Germain and Italian side AS Roma on-loan. It’s a deal that appears to have worked out for no one.
No midfield signing
On the topic of midfield signings, Liverpool came into the current season in dire need of fresh recruits in the heart of the pitch. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Naby Keita were struck with inconsistency heading into the season, whilst a whole host of options look set to leave the club in the summer as their contracts wind down.
During the closing weeks of last summer's window, Klopp revealed that he wanted club chiefs to "take more risks" when it came to the transfer market as the need for a new midfielder intensified. Arthur Melo eventually arrived on-loan as a stop-gap option but the Brazilian's signing has been an unmitigated disaster.
Centre-back crisis
It goes without saying that Liverpool are stuck in a mire right now but the same could certainly be said of the 2020/21 season. An injury crisis at centre-back had seen the Reds’ form fall off a cliff.
Klopp entered the January window needing a top-class centre-back to bolster Liverpool’s options. Initially, he revealed that he had butted heads with club chiefs over the signing of a defender.
It seemed clear from Klopp's comments that he wanted FSG to fund a top class addition, but it was not to be. The Merseyside outfit eventually relented and ended up getting two stop-gaps, but the definition of top-class can’t really be attributed to them.
The loan signing of Turkish defender Ozan Kabak from Schalke was a misstep, whilst Ben Davies never made a single senior appearance after arriving from Preston. Despite that poor business, the Reds eventually did manage to get themselves together and secure a third-place finish in the Premier League.
