LIVERPOOL HAVE NO need to go and sign a player for £100 million this summer, says John Barnes, with Jurgen Klopp requiring only minor tweaks to a squad that could do with greater depth.
The Reds have invested heavily in recent transfer windows.
Record-breaking moves for the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have been sanctioned, allowing Klopp to piece together a side capable of challenging for Premier League and Champions League honours.
The German tactician has admitted that more funds will be required in order to keep pace with domestic and continental rivals, but Barnes is not convinced that ready-made starters are needed.
The former Reds midfielder told The Liverpool Offside: “I actually feel the opposite. I’m looking for something exciting but not necessarily anything new.
“Last season we needed players like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to come into the team to be the main pieces in the squad and maximise the potential we had.
“This year, I don’t think there are any players who will be coming in to take the place of [Mohamed] Salah, [Sadio] Mane, [Roberto] Firmino, or Van Dijk, so instead what we need to do is supplement the squad.
“I don’t think we’re going to go out and get a player for £100m to go straight into the team, but we don’t need that.”
Barnes added: “But there are players out there who can improve the next nine or 10 players after that, which is a relatively easier thing to do.
“Our current rivals, even City included, currently need a few players to improve the first XI and there aren’t that many players out there like that. We don’t need that and we’re just looking for players to improve the squad.”
Liverpool have acquired several world-class talents, but Barnes believes collective spirit is of greater importance to Klopp and his team than boasting the supposedly best players on the planet.
The ex-England international said: “The identity on the pitch is clear.
“No matter how we feel about the players in the team, there is a certain dynamic and profile that they fit under Jurgen Klopp.
“The likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are fantastic players, Liverpool under Klopp don’t want players like that. We have a team where we don’t have the best players as much as we need and have players who fit into the system Klopp has put in place.
“The teams I played for had that similar clear understanding of our identity but it’s also apparent that we also haven’t seen that in the last 15 years at the club.
“The club, the city, the fans have clear expectations of the effort and desire they want to see from this team and that’s the difference between the Liverpool team that you see now and the teams in the last 10-15 years.”
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Can’t stand that Irelands call. We are a one nation team. Surely a better sing than a Phil coulter ditty would be better. Cmon Ireland
We’re not a “one nation team”.That’s non negotiable.Accept it and show some respect to the Bests and Trimbles in Irish rugby.
One nation two jurisdictions. Irish is Irish whether it’s the North or the Republic
Eh that’s what i meant! republic and northern Irish players playing as one.
Leslie, my comment was directed at Peter Rice. I agee with you of course
sound Peter my reply was not for yourself either, was meant for the other chap too :-)
The whole point of introducing Ireland’s Call – I also hate it btw ;-)…. – was that many of the Northern players don’t see themselves as Irish. Like it or not, that’s the reason….
Mattoid, of course they see themselves as Irish, but not of the Republic. They also believe, as I do, that the Irish Rugby team represents Irish nation as a whole and not just the Republic.
Well they sure as hell aren’t going to see themselves as English, Scottish or Welsh! The point is they don’t feel represented by Amhran na bhFiann, and that applies as much to the fans as the players.
Murray is mad for them box kicks. Can’t really see the point in giving up possession. Am I missing something?
Sooner the better we realise Ireland are not as good as we all think. Their an average team have been for last 3 years
Not too bright are ye Thomas? Average yet they’ve beaten top rugby teams like France, south Africa, Australia and Wales over the same 3 year period. Not bad when rugby is very much a 3rd sport in Ireland – GAA and Soccer being the most played.
Fair play to Trimble with the token try at the end – best looking scoreline in a long while for Ireland!
Token?
Higgins would make a better scrum half than murray !!
Feargal you are a loser.
TP;Toilet Paper…I have to go soon, enjoy :D