Liverpool legend John Barnes is backing Ozan Kabak to thrive at Anfield but believes Jurgen Klopp would have signed Kalidou Koulibaly instead if finances were not an issue, as he told Sport1.
With match-day revenues all-but non-existent and clubs cutting costs like never before, it quickly became apparent that one of the world’s best – and most expensive – central defenders was going nowhere.
The Mirror claims that Klopp is a firm admirer of Koulibaly but, in the pandemic era, Liverpool were never likely to meet Napoli’s demands for a man who will turn 30 in June.
Owner Aurelio de Laurentiis told Corriere dello Sport that bids of less than £90 million would be immediately batted away.
So Liverpool had no choice really but to lower their sights and look for more affordable options.
They found them too, landing Kabak on loan from Schalke before bringing in Preston North End’s Ben Davies for a bargain £1.6 million.
While Koulibaly is very much the dream, Barnes believes Kabak could be another inspired addition to a squad full of bargain signings.
“I don’t know much about (Kabak). But, of course Jurgen Klopp doesn’t buy bad players. They do their homework with these players,” Barnes explained.
“If it hadn’t been January, he would have looked to Kalidou Koulibaly or some other player who would have cost £60 million or £70 million.
“I don’t know much about Kabak but I assume he will be a good player when he comes to Liverpool. I hope he is.”
While Alisson Becker has been forced to take much of the blame, Kabak really could have done without a high-profile howler on his Liverpool debut, colliding with the Brazilian goalkeeper to gift Jamie Vardy a goal during Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Leicester City.
But the Turkey international looked far more confident and composed in yesterday’s 2-0 Champions League triumph over RB Leipzig – a sign of things to come, perhaps.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
