Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool cannot blow their transfer budget on glamorous “Ferrari” signings, with the Reds apparently priced out of the race for Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham.
Liverpool had been strongly linked with a close-season move for the England midfielder but are now believed to have switched their attention elsewhere.
With Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea also reportedly interested in the 19-year-old, competition for his signature is likely to be fierce, driving up his price.
Klopp’s preference is to spend Liverpool’s funds on several players to improve an ageing squad that has badly underperformed this season.
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In a pointed message to fans, the German made it clear the club have to look at the bigger picture rather than chasing a marquee signing.
“It is not about Jude Bellingham, my answer now, but I never understood why we talk about things we theoretically cannot have,” Klopp told reporters.
“We cannot have six players in a summer, everyone for £100 million ($A185 million). Everyone would say that is clear.”
He added: “You have to realise what you can do and then work with it. That is your job. We are not children.
“When you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they tell you, ‘I don’t know, a Ferrari’, you wouldn’t say ‘that’s a good idea’ — you would say ‘that is too expensive and anyway you cannot drive it’.
“If this kid then was really unhappy because he didn’t get a Ferrari, it would be a really sad life.”
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Klopp publicly praised Bellingham in December, describing him as “exceptional” after he impressed at the World Cup in Qatar.
The teenage midfielder, who previously played in England for second-tier side Birmingham, is close to international team-mates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson, raising hopes among Liverpool supporters that one of Europe’s hottest prospects could be coming to Anfield.
Henderson, speaking after England’s win against Ukraine in March, said it would be “amazing” if a player with Bellingham’s “frightening” talent were signed by Liverpool.
Yet Liverpool have taken the pragmatic decision to focus on a group of signings, with Chelsea midfielders Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher reportedly now among their top targets.
“You look what you can do, and you work with that. That is always how I worked,” Klopp said.
“What we need and what we want, we try everything to try to get but there are moments where we have to accept and step aside and do different things.”
Eighth-placed Liverpool, who face Leeds on Monday, are 12 points adrift of the top four and could miss out on European football altogether next season unless they improve quickly.
The inconsistent Reds have routed Manchester United 7-0 and thumped Bournemouth 9-0, but also suffered embarrassing defeats at Brighton, Brentford and Wolves, while enduring a Champions League last-16 hammering by Real Madrid.
“It’s a super strange season. I think we all agree it hasn’t been our best season but we’ve also had two of our biggest wins in our history. We haven’t been consistent and that’s been the problem,” Klopp said.
The Liverpool boss will welcome back Luis Diaz for the trip to Elland Road, with the Colombia forward available for the first time since suffering a knee injury in October.
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MANCHESTER UNITED DEALT TOUGH DOUBLE BLOW
Meanwhile, Manchester United have been hit by a double defensive injury blow after Lisandro Martinez was ruled out for the rest of the season and Raphael Varane sidelined for the next few weeks.
Both players were hurt in Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford, in which United conceded two late own goals.
Martinez, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, pulled up in pain gripping his right ankle late in the match and was taken away on a stretcher.
United had already lost fellow first-choice centre-back Varane to injury at half-time and his replacement Harry Maguire scored an own goal in stoppage time.
Manager Erik ten Hag was unable to provide an update when he faced the media at lunchtime on Friday but the club later confirmed the severity the injuries.
“Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot,” United said in a statement.
“However, the Argentinian defender is expected to make a full recovery in time to be ready for the start of next season.”
The statement added: “Lisandro’s defensive partner Raphael Varane was also substituted with an injury at half-time in the same game and is expected to be out for a few weeks.”
Martinez — in his first season at Old Trafford — and Varane have established themselves as Ten Hag’s preferred centre-back pairing and their absence leaves a void as United look to end the campaign on a high.
Ten Hag’s side, who won the League Cup in February, are looking to qualify for the Champions League and enter the weekend fourth in the Premier League standings.
Sunday’s trip to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest is followed by the second leg of United’s Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla in Spain.
Bruno Fernandes misses that match through suspension and club captain Harry Maguire is then banned for next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley.
Maguire’s absence is a concern as he and Victor Lindelof are now the only out-and-out centre-backs at United’s disposal.
Asked how much faith he had in the pair, Ten Hag said: “A lot. I think we have decent centre-halves and they have proved in the past. They have proved this season.
“We have four or five very good centre-halves who can do the job.”
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Another option is left-back Luke Shaw, who has impressed when used centrally this season.
The England international has missed recent matches through injury but could return against Forest along with midfielder Scott McTominay.
Top scorer Marcus Rashford is out with an apparent groin injury, joining Alejandro Garnacho and Donny van de Beek on the sidelines.
Ten Hag underlined the importance of squad players stepping up at his pre-match press conference.
“Every game is a battle, every game is a fight and you have to be ready for that fight,” he said.
“We have a squad. I have said all season we have more than 11 starters. So now others are on and when their time is there you have to show and contribute to the team.”
