Klopp ‘hugely impressed’ by transfer target who starved Liverpool forwards

Jurgen Klopp and close confidant Pepijn Lijnders were both “hugely impressed” by a centre-back target who kept the vaunted Liverpool front three quiet during a recent contest, according to a report.

The Reds suffered their fourth-successive home defeat for the first time in nearly 100 years on Saturday evening.

The 2-0 defeat to Everton further hampered their chances of securing the vital riches of another Champions League campaign.

Liverpool were behind almost immediately through a goal that Klopp described as “completely unnecessary.” Stand-in centre-half Ozan Kabak was slow to react as Richarlison latched on to a threaded James Rodriguez pass.

Kabak and Ben Davies were late additions in the January window as Klopp’s side sought fresh bodies to bolster their depleted depth.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip could all remain sidelined for the remainder of the season. Midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have deputised further back well, but even that duo are now unavailable following the captain’s injury.

Liverpool are strongly expected to add quality depth to their central defensive ranks in the summer.

Klopp: The first goal was unnecessary

Following Liverpool's 2-0 defeat in the Merseyside derby, Jurgen Klopp blamed the early goal for 'giving the game a direction' and forcing his side to chase the game.

Braga’s impressive David Carmo has been touted, though he was recently struck down by a horror injury.

One player that could come under the microscope is Brighton defender Ben White.

The 23-year-old has shaken off a nervy start to life in the Premier League. Since then, he has become a key cog in Graham Potter’s resurgent defence.

Now, online outlet Football Insider state that White’s recent display against the Reds made Klopp and Lijnders ‘purr.’

Brighton defeated the Reds 1-0 on February 3rd in a match that saw Liverpool’s forwards kept incredibly quiet.

White was linked with a return to former club Leeds Utd along with Liverpool throughout the summer window.

No exit ultimately materialised. But the report cites a source that claims he ‘remains on their radar’ going into the summer after “hugely impressing” Liverpool’s coaching staff.

His profile as a ball-playing centre-half fits Liverpool’s style to a tee. Furthermore, he has a pristine recent injury record having started 69 of his last 70 available league matches.

Strike target’s late Liverpool deal collapsed

Meanwhile, Liverpool ducked out of signing Max Kruse at the last minute in 2019 due to Divock Origi’s Champions League exploits.

That is the verdict from Kruse himself. The hitman was available in the summer of 2019 on a free after his Werder Bremen contract had ended.

At the time RTL journalist Thomas Wagner claimed Kruse himself had vetoed the move to Anfield.

Wagner said: “I know Liverpool made an offer to him.

“At first, I thought that a move to Fenerbahce is an unlikely one. But he choose Fenerbahce over Liverpool.”

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