Jurgen Klopp might have cultivated a reputation as the beaming, bespectacled, bearded teddy bear boss of the Premier League. But behind the cheery exterior lies a shrewd, cunning footballing brain.
In recent years, Klopp’s Liverpool have pounced to sign Gini Wijnaldum, Andy Robertson and Xherdan Shaqiri from relegated clubs. And the phrase ‘one man’s misery is another’s fortune’ comes to mind again now that is being Luca Waldschmidt linked with a summer move to Anfield.
Fussballeck claim that a Freiburg forward in the Bobby Firmino mould is in Liverpool’s sights.
Now, The Reds should be fully aware that mega-money deals for the likes of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz or even a Kylian Mbappe or Jadon Sancho will have to be placed on the backburner for now. Football is in the midst of a financial crisis which makes such transfers all-but impossible.
But Liverpool, masters of the transfer market these days, will be fully prepared to deal with such a situation. Waldschmidt might not be a signing which will have the rest of Europe quaking in their boots but is he one of the few players in the market which represents genuine value for money.
A skilful and adaptable centre-forward who loves to drop deep and link play in a manner reminiscent of a certain Brazilian number nine, Waldschmidt was by far and away the best player at last summer’s U21 European Championships.
He outperformed Moise Kean, Federico Chiesa, Carlos Soler, Reiss Nelson and more, netting seven goals en route to winning the Golden Boot.
And, as Freiburg coach Christian Streich pointed out recently, a club with their modest resources may have no choice but to sell with funds in short supply all over the Bundesliga.
“No player is not for sale, we can’t afford (to say) that,” said the charismatic tactician, as translated by Fussball News.
“We are a club which rely on transfer proceeds. The most important thing for us is that we are financially healthy.”
That should be music to the ears of Liverpool as Klopp and co look to pull off another inspired piece of recruitment.
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