Liverpool transfer news: Jurgen Klopp urges Premier League to scrap early deadline

Klopp follows Mauricio Pochettino in calling for a realignment with the rest of Europe

Harry Latham-Coyle
Friday 23 August 2019 17:05 BST
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Jurgen Klopp has called for the Premier League to bring their transfer deadline back in line with the rest of Europe.

The Premier League made the change last year to close the window in England before the first Premier League game, but that leaves clubs vulnerable to unsettling player departures to Europe after the deadline, with the continental window remaining open through to early September.

Mauricio Pochettino called for a realignment earlier in the week, and Klopp agreed with the Argentine ahead of Liverpool’s game with Arsenal.

“I don’t care when it closes, I only think it must close at the same time (as the rest of Europe),” he said.

“When they spoke about ‘Let’s finish it before the season starts then everyone knows their squad’ – that’s a good idea. But then the rest didn’t do it and that makes no sense.

“Can somebody explain what is the benefit for the Premier League? We don’t really have a problem but for other teams, their key players are still on the market and everything can happen.

“You want a team not only together but together and focused on the future, but that is not possible as long as there is a door open.”

Dejan Lovren has been linked with a move away from Liverpool, and may yet make his way through the exit door, with Bayer Leverkusen linked.

A £15 million fee might be enough to secure a deal for the Croatian centre-half, but Klopp is keen not to unsettle his squad before the Champions League begins.

Though refusing to comment on Lovren’s situation specifically, the Liverpool manager hinted that he may be required with busier weeks of the season ahead.

“These weeks are not the most intense of the season so you need a squad from matchday five (onwards) – if you don’t have big injury problems – because you play Carabao Cup, Champions League and Premier League obviously.”

“That means you need everyone in the squad. At this moment not everyone is used maybe like he wants to be used.

Dejan Lovren is being linked with Bayer Leverkusen
Dejan Lovren is being linked with Bayer Leverkusen (Getty)

“Always someone is asking, ‘He’s not playing that much...’ then you think it (a transfer) makes sense but it makes no sense.”

Liverpool will begin the defence of their Champions League on either September 17 or 18.

Lovren has featured just once in a Liverpool squad so far this season, unused as a substitute in the Community Shield.

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