Jurgen Klopp says it is a “misunderstanding” if clubs think Liverpool are going to let Christian Benteke or Mario Balotelli leave on the cheap.
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Benteke has attracted the most interest, with Crystal Palace having a £25million bid rejected at the start of July and more recently West Brom reportedly entering the race to sign the Belgium global.
That trio, when added to the likes of Arsene Wenger, Mauricio Pochettino and Klopp himself, gives the Premier League its deepest ever pool of elite managers but the German insists it will be the players who determine which teams are successful.
“Benteke, Balotelli, Ings, all the other strikers… they are really good strikers”, Klopp began, reported in the Echo.
“Having six strikers is too comfortable”. He could train today [Friday] 100 per cent. “It’s exciting for everybody having these big names in the league”. It’s not about the names, it’s all about the performance on the pitch.
Liverpool face Arsenal on Sunday with James Milner (heel) and Daniel Sturridge (hip) facing late tests. “When we saw him walking out the stadium last Saturday on crutches we were anxious – Milly on crutches is not something you can put together”.
That said, it’s clear that Benteke isn’t in Jurgen Klopp’s plans, so a transfer is best for both parties, and a deal in the current window is the ideal outcome for everyone. “We will see what happens”. “It’s a bruise in the heel”.
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Neither player is seriously injured, but Klopp is unlikely to take any risks especially with Sturridge who has had a specially tailored fitness programme during pre-season. We have to wait.
