Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is frustrated with the club’s failure to land RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner but there is no friction with the owners over losing out on the player, according to James Pearce.
The Athletic‘s Liverpool correspondent has revealed that the financial impact of the global health crisis meant a deal wasn’t possible and that Klopp understood the reasoning.
Supporters on Twitter are not quite as understanding about the Werner situation:
Big mistake not getting him
— Mark Lyminster (@MJLYMINSTER) June 9, 2020
Absolute nonsense.
— Bobbysteeth85 (@bobbysteeth85) June 9, 2020
Sell to buy fc
— Scott Easton (@Scottea29426991) June 9, 2020
That’s life we move on as usual, onwards and upwards
— Paul Williams (@willoFTM) June 10, 2020
I’m more upset at having to play against Werner than not signing him. Fully believe we would have lost a different great player on the squad had he come in
— El hombre de jumpowwfff (@AndrewMarson) June 9, 2020
Wages stadium and training ground this year we have to pay back millions tv tickets etc..
— wilson (@CallMe_Cou) June 9, 2020
There was never an intention to spend this summer, as the clause was inserted last year after he extended his contract, and was due to expire on June 15th. If LFC were serious about the purchase they would have put in a bid in December at same time as Minamino. Let's get over it!
— Osama (@O5amaD) June 9, 2020
Sell to buy FC. We have the best manager in the world and can’t back him up when he wants. Nonsense. I would understand if we don’t have the new Nike deal in place, if we didn’t win the last champions league and follow it up with the super cup and club World Cup. Nonsense.
— Ram (@Iam_Ram2128) June 9, 2020
Would have loved him here. But Klopp's explanation made perfect sense.
We can't furlough staff and ask players to take pay cuts, then go and buy a £50m player on £200k a week.
— Mark (@_MarkL33) June 9, 2020
Spending £53m on a player who would not have been guaranteed a first-team place meant that FSG were always going to hesitate on the deal.
With Chelsea having money in the bank, following the transfer ban, as well being prepared to hand Werner regular first-team football, there are also a lot of other factors as to why the German decided on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Whether Liverpool will opt to pursue an alternative target when the transfer window opens, we shall have to wait and see.
