Beating Barcelona to £45m Junior Firpo would highlight Liverpool’s rapid rise

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Champions League winners Liverpool reportedly want Real Betis flyer Junior Firpo, who is also a target for La Liga champions Barcelona.

It is a sign of where Liverpool are right now that they could be about to pay £45 million for a player who would probably be a back-up option at Anfield.

When Jurgen Klopp took over in 2015, The Reds were well adrift of Chelsea, Manchester City and even Arsenal in the Premier League while their European forays were limited to Thursday night meetings with Besiktas, Bordeaux and co.

So it cannot be understated just what a wonderful job Klopp has done in the last four years.

Liverpool are currently the Champions of Europe and lost just once in the 2018/19 Premier League season, accumulating 97 points overall.

And reports from Sport claiming that Liverpool are looking to replace Alberto Moreno, one of the few remaining symbols of a calamitous, pre-Klopp era, with the £45 million Real Betis flyer Junior Firpo speaks volumes about the club’s new-found ambition.

Firpo, a Spain U21 international with real technical ability, is also a target for La Liga champions Barcelona but the chance to work under Klopp should really appeal.

After all, so many players have become established world-class performers under the former Dortmund boss and Firpo could certainly follow in their footsteps.

And the fact that Firpo would probably be a back-up at best given the continued brilliance of Andy Robertson just goes to show how big Liverpool are thinking. They’re no longer settling for mediocrity.