Klopp would have signed Liverpool star five years ago, claims Reds hero

Departing Liverpool star Adam Lallana would have found himself a target for Jurgen Klopp “if you go back five years”.

Lallana is out of contract on June 30, and as such is now free to negotiate with foreign clubs and even sign a pre-contract agreement, if a deal can be reached.

Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham are all understood to be chasing the midfielder, while it was reported last month that Leicester were “leading” the race to land him and had already made an enquiry with his representative.

And while it’s been reported this week that the current financial crisis in the game could force Liverpool into U-turns over four of their stars, his departure does still look increasingly likely with the midfielder admitting his frustrations by a lack of game-time this season.

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson believes that Lallana can consider himself unlucky and claims he was inherited relatively late by Klopp and suggests he fills a creative role so well that he would have been targeted “if you go back five years”.

“If you go back five years you’d be looking to bring Lallana in,” he told Sky Sports. “He’s the creative one in that hole behind Bobby Firmino, and I think that is an important place we can look to strengthen.

“I do think we need a bit of a creative player. I know they’re talking about Adam Lallana going, but he is that sort of player.”

Thompson also expressed his desire for Liverpool to strengthen at left-back, where Andy Robertson has started 27 Premier League games this season and James Milner has filled in twice.

“I think we do need a back-up for Andy Robertson. He does play a lot of games,” he added.

 

 

“Neco Williams, at right-back, I do see him being able to cover for Trent, but I think at left-back, Larouci, the young lad we have is a really good player, but I think we need someone a bit more experienced.”

In other Liverpool news, assistant boss Pep Ljinders has revealed how Klopp raved about one of the club’s “little diamonds” after first watching him in training.