‘I had no idea about him’ – Klopp makes shocking admission about new Liverpool recruit
By Russell Edge
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shockingly admitted that he knew nothing about summer signing Dominic Solanke when he was first told of the striker’s availability.
The 19-year-old was available on a free transfer, subject to compensation due to his age, after seeing his contract at former club Chelsea expire, and it was the Reds who snapped him up.
However, Klopp had to rely on his backroom staff and scouting team to inform him all about the forward, due to a lack of video footage of the player himself.
The German manager says that while everyone else knew about Solanke, he was only able to find clips of him in action for youth teams and during a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem.
He now says he has been impressed with the young striker since his arrival at Anfield, and believes that he will be a future star for the Reds.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “Everyone in England knew him but I had no idea about him. It was difficult to find footage about him.
“I trust the guys around us, the scouts, so I said: ‘Let’s do it.’
“He’s extremely football smart and focused. You see the movement.
“He has to improve in a lot of ways – he looks like a nice project.”
Liverpool’s new recruit Solanke made just one senior appearances for Chelsea during his time at Stamford Bridge, a 17 minute cameo in a Champions League group match against NK Maribor.
Despite his lack of senior minutes, he is an experienced international at youth level for England, having hit 10 goals in 15 appearances for the Under-20s, while he also has three caps for the Under-21s.
The Liverpool Echo state that Solanke’s eventual fee will come down to a tribunal, but claim that a value of £3million has been rumoured.
In other Liverpool news, this midfielder is set to undergo a medical ahead of a potential transfer.
We’ve launched a << BREAKING NEWS FEED>> exclusively for your club. ‘Like Us’ on Facebook by clicking here if you want 24/7 updates on all Liverpool breaking news.