Izuchukwu Okosi
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not fazed about the possibility of Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah being targeted by Saudi Arabian rich clubs once again when the winter transfer window opens in January.
Klopp was facing questions from the media Friday afternoon in his pre match press conference against Wolverhampton Wanderers midday on Saturday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Reds rejected a £150m bid for the 31-year-old before the Premier League transfer window shut on 1 September and there were no further moves before Saudi Arabia’s closed six days later.
However, Saudi Pro League director of football and former Nigeria international Michael Emenalo has said the door is not closed on a move for Salah.
“You are kidding me, yeah?” said Klopp.
“A week after we close the transfer window, you ask about the January transfer window?
“Obviously, you can’t wait until December to ask these questions. We will see what happens. Until then, I’m not worried in this moment.
“I didn’t even think about it until you opened that wound again. No, I’m not worried.”
Klopp also addressed former captain Jordan Henderson saying he did not feel wanted by Liverpool prior to moving to Saudi Arabian Pro League side, Al-Ettifaq, coached by Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard in the summer.
Henderson had been with the Reds since signing from Sunderland in 2011 and made 492 appearances for the club, becoming captain and winning seven major titles including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
“If one of those people [at Liverpool] said to me, ‘we want you to stay’, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” said Henderson earlier this month.
“Now, that’s not to say they forced me out of the club or they were saying they wanted me to leave but at no point did I feel wanted by the club or anyone to stay.”
Henderson moved to Saudi Arabia after Liverpool brought in midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai early in the summer transfer window.
“I read it after I heard about it. ‘Hendo’ said the truth in all departments,” said Klopp.
“We had our talks. I told ‘Hendo’ I wanted him to stay but I had to talk in these conversations about the possibility of him not playing regularly.
“If ‘Hendo’ would have performed, he would have had maybe 50 games. Absolutely fine and possible.
“The relationship we had, I thought it was important that we speak about everything, and that means ‘what happens if…’.
“‘Hendo’ is fantastic player, I will love him forever and he is a super guy but he is not great when he is not playing, ” Klopp curiously noted.
Liverpool will play in the UEFA Europa League competition this, season after finishing in 5th place in the 2022/2023 season.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
