Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss asked to resign for over-spending in transfer market

Klopp asked to step down after 2016 comments || Imago and The Mirror

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss asked to resign for over-spending in transfer market

Stephen Oladehinde 12:09 - 11.08.2023

Jurgen Klopp has been reportedly told to resign after making comments that he will not sign a player for over £100 million.

Liverpool have agreed a deal worth £111 million with Brighton for the signing of their midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The Ecuadorian international, who has recently shone at the Seagulls, looks likely to join the Reds after beating Chelsea for his signature.

In the past, Liverpool has spent a lot of money on players like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, but in 2016, Klopp highlighted his concerns about the high player costs.

However, after Manchester United acquired Paul Pogba, Klopp said he would leave football if he signs a player for £100 million.

With many remembering his comments in 2016, Klopp has been advised to step down as Liverpool manager after breaking his word by spending above £100 million on Caicedo.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp || Imago
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp || Imago

Klopp's comment in 2016

The German objected to the idea of spending such money on a single player, highlighting the importance of the group as opposed to the individual, and it appeared that he would not act in a similar manner.

He said as reported by the Mirror, “If you bring one player in for £100 million or whatever and he gets injured then it all goes through the chimney. 

“The day that this is football, I’m not in a job any more, because the game is about playing together. 

“That is why somebody invented passes so these players can play together. It’s not about running with the ball because you can do it all the time.

“Building the group is not my unique idea – it is necessary to be successful in football. Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players, yes. 

“Do I have to do it differently to that? I don’t know exactly how much money we could spend because nobody has told me up to this point ‘no, no, no you can’t do this’. 

“If I spend money it is because I am trying to build a real team. You can win championships, you can win titles. But maybe there is a manner in which you want it. It is about how it is.”

Klopp breaks promise

The record-breaking signing by Liverpool will now surpass anything Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, or United have accomplished.

Klopp broke his 2016 promise after Liverpool agreed on a deal worth £100 million for Brighton midfielder Caicedo.

He has now responded to reporters about the transfer after he was reminded of his comments on big money transfer in 2016 

Klopp has said as reported by the Mirror, "These kind of things happen. When you want to sign a striker as exciting as Darwin is, that’s the market and you have to pay the price. 

“I said so many things in my life and life caught me then later and showed me that my imagination was obviously not clear enough for how quickly life can change. That’s how it is.

“After that (comment about Pogba), we bought a centre-half for quite a decent fee (£75m for Virgil van Dijk), we bought a goalie for quite a decent fee (Alisson Becker for £65m). 

“Our situation is always the same, we try to level it somehow (with sales), the things we invest in the boys and in the players we sell, it’s kind of that it’s not going out of any kind of range and that worked so far, but I know, I heard it immediately.

“I forgot that I said this but everybody reminded me and then I thought, ‘Oh, okay, yeah...’. I’ve said worse things in my life, to be honest, but that’s one of them.”

Klopp admits he was wrong 

In an interview prior to the start of the current Premier League season, Klopp acknowledged that his team had to make a significant investment in Caicedo this summer in order to stay ahead of their opponents in the quest for the top four.

He said as reported by the Mirror, "Everything changed. Do I like it? No. Did I realise I was wrong? Yes. 

“That's the way it goes. Saudi Arabia will not help with that. In the end, we have to try and make sure we get the best possible team together.

"50 percent will like it and 50 percent won't. We are trying to bring together the best squad for us. 

“We cannot just point on players and bring them in, there is a lot of work to do. Sometimes one door closes and another opens up. 

“If people want to throw my quotes from five years ago, no problem. I realise I was wrong."