Jurgen Klopp defends Liverpool's £65m fee for Alisson becker: 'It's the market, that's how it is... it’s something we have to do'
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool could not miss the chance to sign one of the world’s best goalkeepers after completing the £65 million record transfer of Alisson.
Alisson becker said he made the move to Anfield from Roma to take an ‘upward step’ in his career. Klopp acknowledged the size of the fee – the most ever paid for a goalkeeper – but felt his club had to act.
“At one point in the last few weeks it came up, the opportunity to sign (one) of the world’s best goalkeepers,” said Klopp.
“Then it’s not a long thought, to be honest, it’s only that you need to have a little talk with the owners. They were quite excited, so we did it.
“I think it’s something we have to do. He has nothing to do with the price, we have nothing to do with the price, it’s the market, that’s how it is and we will not think a lot about it.
“It shows the value of goalkeepers, of course, in this moment. We are really happy to have him here now.
“He has a lot of experience in the last few years, in Europe and in Rome, he’s played an outstandingly high level and he did the same at the World Cup.
“We got him here because of his existing strengths, which is in all goalkeeper departments the highest level.”
Liverpool will pay a guaranteed £53.8m, with a further £9m in add-ons based on Premier League and European success.
Alisson’s first club in Brazil, Internacional, received £2.2m from the deal.
“I'm really happy, it’s a dream come true to wear such a prestigious shirt for a club of this size that is used to always winning,” said Alisson. “In terms of my life and my career, it’s a huge step for me being part of this club and this family.
“You can be certain that I’ll give my all.”
Liverpool have already moved to recoup some of the cost, agreeing a £12.5m deal with Leicester for Wales international Danny Ward. Liverpool have also guaranteed 20 per cent of any future sale of the keeper.
Leicester’s move for Ward means Kasper Schmeichel is facing an uncertain future. The club have stressed Ward's anticipated arrival is not to replace the Dane. However, Claude Puel is understood to have clashed with Schmeichel towards the end of last season and Ward could come in as Leicester's No 1.
Leicester expect interest in Schmeichel this summer but are under no pressure to sell after the £60m departure of Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City. Ward was pulled out of Liverpool's friendly against Blackburn on Thursday - where he was set to start - as a move to the King Power Stadium edges closer.
Meanwhile, Klopp has revealed he had to talk Jordan Henderson into taking a full summer holiday after the Liverpool captain asked to report back to training early.
Henderson has three weeks off following the World Cup, which means he is not due back to work until August 5.
That means he has been effectively ruled out of the opening weekend fixture with West Ham as Klopp wants his players to complete a full pre-season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold may be given permission to return a week earlier, partly due to the fact he did not play much in Russia, but also because of his age making fatigue less of a concern in the season ahead.
But Klopp insisted on Henderson having a break.
“It was a hard fight to convince him that he needed a holiday,” said Klopp.
“I knew it would happen. On the phone I said 'crazy'. Jordan needs a holiday so that means August 5 he will be back. Dejan (Lovren) had a party in Croatia and played a day later so he will be back on August 6. That would mean five days training after three weeks holiday.
“I hope we are in a situation where we don't need to think about using these two (against West Ham).
“With Trent I have a special agreement. He wanted to be in earlier as well. As he's very young I said, 'Okay, have two weeks holiday and then we'll speak and see'. If you asked Trent he would be good to join us in two weeks. But I'm not sure I will do that. I want to have them desperately but the season is really long. It will be difficult to involve them against West Ham but I don't want to make that line up today.”
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool could not miss the chance to sign one of the world’s best goalkeepers after completing the £65 million record transfer of Alisson.
Alisson becker said he made the move to Anfield from Roma to take an ‘upward step’ in his career. Klopp acknowledged the size of the fee – the most ever paid for a goalkeeper – but felt his club had to act.
“At one point in the last few weeks it came up, the opportunity to sign (one) of the world’s best goalkeepers,” said Klopp.
“Then it’s not a long thought, to be honest, it’s only that you need to have a little talk with the owners. They were quite excited, so we did it.
“I think it’s something we have to do. He has nothing to do with the price, we have nothing to do with the price, it’s the market, that’s how it is and we will not think a lot about it.
“It shows the value of goalkeepers, of course, in this moment. We are really happy to have him here now.
“He has a lot of experience in the last few years, in Europe and in Rome, he’s played an outstandingly high level and he did the same at the World Cup.
“We got him here because of his existing strengths, which is in all goalkeeper departments the highest level.”
Liverpool will pay a guaranteed £53.8m, with a further £9m in add-ons based on Premier League and European success.
Alisson’s first club in Brazil, Internacional, received £2.2m from the deal.
“I'm really happy, it’s a dream come true to wear such a prestigious shirt for a club of this size that is used to always winning,” said Alisson. “In terms of my life and my career, it’s a huge step for me being part of this club and this family.
“You can be certain that I’ll give my all.”
Liverpool have already moved to recoup some of the cost, agreeing a £12.5m deal with Leicester for Wales international Danny Ward. Liverpool have also guaranteed 20 per cent of any future sale of the keeper.
Leicester’s move for Ward means Kasper Schmeichel is facing an uncertain future. The club have stressed Ward's anticipated arrival is not to replace the Dane. However, Claude Puel is understood to have clashed with Schmeichel towards the end of last season and Ward could come in as Leicester's No 1.
Leicester expect interest in Schmeichel this summer but are under no pressure to sell after the £60m departure of Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City. Ward was pulled out of Liverpool's friendly against Blackburn on Thursday - where he was set to start - as a move to the King Power Stadium edges closer.
Meanwhile, Klopp has revealed he had to talk Jordan Henderson into taking a full summer holiday after the Liverpool captain asked to report back to training early.
Henderson has three weeks off following the World Cup, which means he is not due back to work until August 5.
That means he has been effectively ruled out of the opening weekend fixture with West Ham as Klopp wants his players to complete a full pre-season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold may be given permission to return a week earlier, partly due to the fact he did not play much in Russia, but also because of his age making fatigue less of a concern in the season ahead.
But Klopp insisted on Henderson having a break.
“It was a hard fight to convince him that he needed a holiday,” said Klopp.
“I knew it would happen. On the phone I said 'crazy'. Jordan needs a holiday so that means August 5 he will be back. Dejan (Lovren) had a party in Croatia and played a day later so he will be back on August 6. That would mean five days training after three weeks holiday.
“I hope we are in a situation where we don't need to think about using these two (against West Ham).
“With Trent I have a special agreement. He wanted to be in earlier as well. As he's very young I said, 'Okay, have two weeks holiday and then we'll speak and see'. If you asked Trent he would be good to join us in two weeks. But I'm not sure I will do that. I want to have them desperately but the season is really long. It will be difficult to involve them against West Ham but I don't want to make that line up today.”
