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Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp’s 2016 comments about excessive spending resurface ahead of world-record Alisson deal

The Brazilian is flying into Liverpool to complete a move worth £67million - a record for a goalkeeper

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Brazil star Alisson from Roma, in what will be a world-record deal for for a goalkeeper.

The Brazil international is currently flying into Liverpool to complete a medical ahead of a £67million deal.

 Alisson looks bound for Liverpool
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Alisson looks bound for Liverpool

It would represent a complete squad overhaul for the German, who took over the Reds in 2015.

However, fans have been quick to remind Klopp about what he said two years ago with regards to excessive spending.

With Manchester City closing in on the singing of John Stones and Manchester United about to sign Paul Pogba for a world-record fee, Klopp bemoaned the big spending of Premier League sides.

“Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players, yes,” he said in 2016. “But if you bring one player in for £100 million or whatever, and he gets injured, then it all goes through the chimney.

 Klopp claimed he would be 'out of a job' if clubs continued to spend big, but has not been afraid to splash the cash himself
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Klopp claimed he would be 'out of a job' if clubs continued to spend big, but has not been afraid to splash the cash himself

“Do I have to do it differently to that? Actually, I WANT to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I COULD spend that money.

“I want a special team spirit – I don’t feel it is necessary, I want it.

"You can’t say at the end, 'Only 11 best players will play together and let’s see what happens.'

"The day that this is football, I’m not in a job anymore. Because the game is about playing together.

“That is why somebody invented passes — so these players can play together. It’s not about running with the ball because you can do it all the time.

"But building the group is not my unique idea, it is necessary to be successful in football.”

Since that interview, Klopp has broken the world record transfer fee for a defender by signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for £75 million.

Once the Alisson deal goes through (another world-record fee) the German's spending at Liverpool will surpass the £400 million mark.

 

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