Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool remain ‘really attractive’ for potential signings despite the prospect of no Champions League football next season.
Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League table and face an uphill task to secure Champions League qualification, with the Reds requiring dropped points from Newcastle or Manchester United to reach Europe’s elite next season.
The Reds take on Leicester in the Premier League on Monday night as Klopp’s side seek a seventh consecutive win to keep their European ambitions alive.
Klopp was asked how an absence from the Champions League would impact transfer plans, but believes Liverpool remain an attractive destination regardless of whether qualification is secured for next season.
“When I talk to a player – if I’m allowed to talk to a player – we cannot say in the moment if we have Champions League football. So, if we’re already talking, then it is already clear that he already knows about that situation,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“But it’s just a general thing. I think if you join a club, you reach something together with the club. It’s obvious we have to be part of the Champions League, fight for trophies and these kind of things. If you want to be part of that, you’re more than welcome. We cannot guarantee this year Champions League football.
“But all the rest is the same as before: a fantastic club with a really good football team – and a better one hopefully next year. It’s really that simple. Still Liverpool. We’re really attractive to a lot of players.”
Liverpool have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks with six consecutive Premier League wins. Klopp has tweaked his tactical shape with Trent Alexander-Arnold spending large periods in midfield and the German said the change is designed to give his team a head start ahead of next season.
“We try to give ourselves a chance for a fresh start with a lot of different things, different football things and kind of a new start.
“We had eight or nine days between games and we wanted to use that time to start the new season already, not knowing where it would lead us to but we didn’t want to waste more time.
“It was a breath of fresh air. Not just for the players but for all of us and the coaches as well. We want to control the game differently, protect our game differently, in different formations and to be honest, it’s really good fun to think about it, work on it and then the results came in.
“Sometimes you have to change big things to turn things, not just little things.”
