Jurgen Klopp Unsure Of January Signings

Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool are prepared to make additions in the January transfer market, but added that he does not know if it will be necessary.

Injuries in attacking positions are starting to build up for the Reds, with Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings currently on the sidelines, while Sadio Mane will be on international duty with Senegal at the African Nations Cup in January.

Sources told ESPN FC last month that Liverpool are interested in FC Rostov striker Sardar Azmoun, but Klopp insists he is happy with his squad, while he is unsure whether moves will be made next month.

“Our scouting department had breakfast and I sat with them so we have all the time together, speaking. ‘Which for winter, which for summer,’ and that is always like this,” Klopp is quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. “You need to be prepared. That is what we try to be. At the end I have no idea if we do something in the winter or if not.

“Of course, the more injuries we have, the more you have to think about it, but a lot of people thought in the summer we should have more players but I thought it worked out really well. Now it was a little bit unlucky with Phil and at the same time Roberto out, and at the same time Daniel out, and at the same time [Adam] Lallana out. That situation would be difficult for each team in the world and you cannot prepare for that.

“I don’t need 20 options. I need the right options. It’s not about a number. Always in situations like this it is an opportunity for somebody else who might not be so close to the team. If I had five more players of the same quality they would not get enough games. It is better to bring a young player in.

“If all the other players stay fit, we don’t need anything. We still have offensive options, we have young boys that look good, there are a lot of things we can change.”

Liverpool are linked to signing players on a daily basis, and it is something which Klopp believes is disrespectful to the current members of his team.

“If I say we might buy, there is nothing else that will be talked about in this country until Jan. 31,” he added. “It makes absolutely no sense. For me it’s really difficult to be part of this transfer market craziness. It only disturbs, because when you talk about the players we need it is always a criticism of the players we have.

“If we think we need someone we will try everything we can to do it. If not, you can write what you like, we won’t do anything. We only want the right solution, not any solution.”

Meanwhile, Klopp believes it is important that he and his players do not “carry the history” of the club and their current Premier League title drought on their backs.

“I am here 15 months or something, I cannot carry the history of Liverpool FC,” Klopp said. “It makes no sense. These boys cannot carry the history. I know a good decision in life is when you know about problems, think about them and put them away.

“If you are nervous enough to pick the history and say, ‘In this year we lost it in this game and in that year we lost it in this game and then we had not the right manager and not the right players, blah blah blah,’ it makes no sense.

“This is a completely new team, a new manager in the first full year, so we start our history. That [Manchester] City or Chelsea or Leicester was last year champion does not help them this year. Anything that could disturb our way, we should put away. OK, I know if you are still around in the last 10 games, pressure is there. My feeling is we can win everything and have nothing to lose. So let’s go for it.”