Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has sort of sent some mixed messages about the transfer market this summer. First he had said that his club, as well as any that wishes to get to/remain at the top must spend big every window. Later, Klopp implied that not much of anything is going to happen this window, by saying the additions have already been made.
That said, we still have a couple of LFC transfer news items to cover on this Monday. First, back-up goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will be staying put this summer, and secondly, the Reds may be in the hunt to acquire a new left back before the window closes.
We’ll start with the Belgium international who serves as the back-up to Alisson Becker.
“Yeah, how I’ve heard,” Klopp answered when queried about whether or not Mignolet will extend his stay with Liverpool beyond the six seasons that he’s been with the club.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with him over the last couple of years and months. Before we left (on break), we had a talk and I would say, yes (Mignolet will stay at the club). I think at a club like Liverpool you need two No. 1s at least and we have that, that’s cool, with Ali and Simon.”
Klopp made the comments after a 3-1 win over Bradford City in a friendly at Northern Commercials Stadium yesterday. He also added the following in regards to the situation:
“That’s a very good situation for the club, but a situation I think you should have and that’s why everything is fine from my point of view.”
Liverpool will now prepare for their preseason exhibition tour of the United States, with the next match coming against Klopp’s former club, Borussia Dortmund, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana on Friday night.
In regards to the left back situation, Andrew Robertson is entrenched as the starter, but having just underwent surgery on a hand infected by an insect bite, there is some concern about cover for him, especially given how Alberto Moreno is no longer with the club.
Midfielder James Milner can slot in in a pinch, with youngsters Adam Lewis and Yasser Larouci the only other options.
“We will see. It’s not a yes, not a no,” Klopp answered when asked about seeking out an external addition to the depth chart at this position.
“I have said already we have to think about everything and at the end maybe we do nothing.”
“I can imagine we have a look at all the things around us. Of course, we lost a left-back (in Moreno) but today we saw two pretty young ones, and James (Milner) played it. We will see.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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