Jurgen Klopp’s phone call to Kostas Tsimikas proved decisive in persuading him to join Liverpool, according to SportTime in Greece.
Tsimikas was apparently handed an offer worth more money by Leicester City, but he ultimately decided that a move to Liverpool was too good to turn down.
The former Olympiacos man has now penned a long-term contract at Anfield, and Klopp’s encouraging words were crucial.
“The decision is yours. We want you, you fit very well in our project and in what we want to play,” the Liverpool boss apparently said to the full-back over the phone, before he had made his mind up.
Tsimikas will now compete with Andy Robertson for a first-team place at Anfield.
The Greek international is widely expected to arrive as second choice, but he is considered to be a player with high potential by Liverpool.
Tsimikas has proven solid defensively over the past campaign with Olympiacos, but as a converted winger, he also has the attacking abilities to fit in well on Merseyside.
Liverpool were short at cover at left-back throughout last term, and Tsimikas’s arrival should help them to be even stronger next campaign.
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