Liverpool transfer news: Jurgen Klopp insists he won't just buy Bundesliga players
The 48-year-old German coach has been linked with a range of players from his homeland
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp has vowed that Liverpool’s summer transfer activity will not only focus on targets playing in the Bundesliga.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager has already finalised the signing of Schalke 04 centre-back Joel Matip and continues to be heavily linked with the likes of Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze and Cologne's Jonas Hector.
Klopp, however, has insisted that he will cast his net wider and not simply focus on targets from his homeland, where he spent the entirety of his career before arriving at Anfield last October.
“We see in Germany that clubs need to be afraid but I think not,” he told SPORT1, a German television channel. “I do not think that Liverpool has become more interesting for German players through me.”
“If we have an interest in a player we don’t require him because he’s German or plays in Germany. That would be nonsense. We look but not only in the Bundesliga.
“In fact we are really global at the start,” he added. “It is much more important not where the player comes from, but that it is the right player for us.”
Klopp, who was speaking ahead of his return to Dortmund for next Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg, also revealed he is in contact with former players and colleagues at Signal Iduna Park.
The 48-year-old coach is excited about the prospect of meeting his former club and, although he admits Dortmund are favourites, he expects the tie to be highly competitive.
“I texted with a few players and Michael Zorc. They are looking forward to the game as well. In the last years we celebrated together, now just one of us will celebrate. Better than nobody!
“To get this draw is absolutely amazing,” he added. “The atmosphere in the two games against Dortmund will set new standards.
“It makes sense that we play against Dortmund two times. It’s better than in the final.
“I don’t think that Dortmund was too happy with the draw as we are a dangerous opponent. I don’t need a special introduction in the stadium and I will celebrate a Liverpool goal. But Dortmund are the favourites.”
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