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Liverpool haven’t done much business in the transfer market this summer, but I imagine Jurgen Klopp would slam the window shut if he could.
Barcelona have once again pressed their nose against the Anfield glass.
And reports from Spain that new Barça manager Ronald Koeman wants to sign Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum will send a chill to all Liverpool fans.
Luis Suárez and Philippe Coutinho have not been able to resist the temptation of the Camp Nou in recent years.
And even while the Catalan club has been in crisis, the name FC Barcelona always carries great congratulations.
(Image: PETER POWELL / EPA-EFE / REX)
Liverpool is one of the most important clubs in world football.
But Mane is from Senegal. When he was growing up in Sedhiou city, I wouldn’t be surprised if he dreamed of wearing the famous claret and blue shirt.
When Wijnaldum was playing soccer on the streets of Rotterdam, he no doubt recreated Koeman’s free kick at Wembley that won the Champions League for Barcelona in 1992.
Both players have also worked with the Dutchman.
Mane for club, Wijnaldum for country.
(Image: Getty)
At this point, any move away from Liverpool can be seen as a downward step.
And the only thing I can see undermining Klopp’s team would be a couple of key players turning their heads.
Of course, Liverpool are a different beast than they were when Suarez and Coutinho left.
Klopp used the £ 144 million fee the club deposited for Philippe to build a team that is officially the best in the world.
Other clubs may have better people, but Liverpool’s strength is the bond it has forged between its players.
(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
Jurgen won’t want that team spirit to be undermined in any way. We all remember the way Suarez sulked when first Arsenal and then Barcelona were denied a move.
Luis got away with it in the end, and he won’t regret it even though his time in La Liga now seems to be coming to an ignominious end.
I look around the Anfield locker room now and if I’m honest I don’t see any player ditching the tools.
But you’ll be surprised how much these things can upset your team’s balance.
It is human nature. A player’s attitude only has to drop a fraction and it makes a huge difference.
Other players can see it from a mile away.
It may not be for a tackle because somewhere in your mind lurks the fear of getting hurt.
Or it may be that you don’t run that extra yard or don’t make the effort to shut down an opponent.
Little things, big consequences.
That is not a criticism. Most of the time it is subconscious.
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
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Klopp will know too.
He will hope that Barcelona stay away from their players before the transfer window closes on October 5.
Obviously, Klopp feels that the team that has won the Premier League, the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup in the last two seasons does not need to get stronger.
Once again his maneuvers have left Liverpool in the red, with winger Konstantinos Tsimikas coming in and Dejan Lovren coming out for a few extra million.
October 5 cannot come fast enough for Liverpool.
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