Liverpool round-up: Hitzfeld on Klopp’s future; Keita transfer talked down; Palace pull out of Sakho race

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Liverpool have progressed a lot since Jurgen Klopp took over as manager and they will be aiming for a Premier League title push this campaign. Ottmar Hitzfeld, the legendary German coach, believes that his compatriot will win the English top flight title, before returning home to manage Bayern Munich. The 68-year-old told t-online.de:

“Klopp is one of the top coaches. He will be an English champion sooner or later, of that I am firmly convinced. He is building something with Liverpool.”

“Jurgen Klopp always belongs among the candidates at Bayern. He knows the Bundesliga, he became German champion and won the trophy. I think and I expect him to be the coach of Bayern.”

These quotes show highly Jurgen Klopp is thought of in his homeland and they will increase the excitement among the Reds’ fan-base as we approach the new season. They have never won the Premier League title and the manager that puts an end to that record will achieve legendary status at the club. They haven’t had a coach as talented as Klopp for a long time and although the division is very competitive at the moment, Liverpool are a threat once again.

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The Naby Keita saga continues to dominate the media and RB Leipzig are beginning to grow tired of the speculation. The Liverpool Echo report that the Reds are prepared to shatter their transfer record to sign the midfielder and Keita himself is keen on a move to Anfield. However, in an interview with Sportbuzzer, Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was asked about the transfer and had the following to say:

“Yes. And that topic is boring. This is only our second Bundesliga season, our squad is still the youngest and most likely also the most inexperienced. Sure, it would be great to start where we left off. It’s an advantage that there’s no upheaval.”

It is clear that the Bundesliga club doesn’t want to sell, but that doesn’t mean that Liverpool won’t be signing him this summer. This is a deal that will continue to run and given that the player wants to move to Anfield, it is one that could happen in the coming weeks. Leipzig will be aware that they need to appear strong in public in order to push the fee as high as possible. This comment could be nothing more than a negotiating tactic.

Crystal Palace have pulled out of the race to sign Mamadou Sakho. The Guardian report that they have been priced out of a move and that new manager Frank de Boer believes that he can sign five players for Liverpool’s £30 million asking price. After starring at Selhurst Park last season, the Eagles had hoped to bring the defender back on a permanent deal, but that is now unlikely unless the asking price is lowered.

There will be more interest in the centre-back and this latest development doesn’t mean that he will stay at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp froze Sakho out last season and although he played well for Palace, it is unlikely that he will return to the first team fold. If the Red manage to bring in a significant fee for the defender, it would boost their own spending power and that could be important as their priority targets won’t come cheap.

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