Jurgen Klopp has sent a heartfelt message to Liverpool supporters after his emotional ‘homecoming’ to Anfield, as the club’s hierarchy reportedly line up three potential replacements for the departing Mohamed Salah.
The legendary German was given a hero’s welcome at the weekend as he returned to the dugout for a charity clash against his old side Borussia Dortmund. It was a fleeting glimpse of the man who ended the club’s 30 year wait for a Premier League title, with the 2-2 draw featuring goals from Jay Spearing and Thiago Alcantara played out in front of a rapturous Kop.
Arne Slot has since taken the reins and somehow managed to top Klopp’s feat by winning the title in his first season. But it’s not been all plain sailing since, with the Reds faltering in their defence this term.
Now, with the international break giving fans time to reflect, Klopp has taken to social media to sum up his return. Posting a series of snaps on Monday evening, he made it clear the occasion was about more than just nostalgia.
“Thank you to everyone who made my homecoming so special,” he wrote. “Enjoyed every second.”
The 57 year old, who delivered the Champions League, FA Cup and Club World Cup during his nine year reign, added that his role was never meant to be about the spotlight. “My role was definitely not to have a lot of words,” he said. “I was here for the Foundation and to be part of a really special experience.
“Seeing all the Liverpool lads and then seeing the Dortmund lads as well, that was like 80 per cent of my players. You don’t meet very often and have them all together in one room. It’s really, really, really nice. I think Thiago alone was worth the ticket!”
While Klopp’s return dominated the weekend, the reality of life after Salah is now firmly on the agenda at Anfield.
With the Egyptian King confirming he will walk away at the end of the season, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive. Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao have all been named as potential targets.
But digging into the links reveals a far murkier picture.
Conceicao, 23, was the subject of interest last week, though club sources have since played down the chatter. When asked about the Reds, the Portugal international gave little away. “I know people talk about a big club, but I play for a big club where I am happy,” he said.
Diomande is another name on the list, with Liverpool’s strong relationship with Leipzig meaning the rumour refuses to go away. But with the Bundesliga side reportedly slapping a £100million plus price tag on the 19 year old, any deal would require that figure to be slashed significantly.
The teenager has previous form for stoking the flames, admitting Liverpool was his father’s dream club. “It was always his great wish to see me play there someday,” Diomande previously revealed. “He always raved about Steven Gerrard.”
Olise, meanwhile, looks a non starter. Bayern have zero interest in letting the former Crystal Palace star leave just a year after his move to the Allianz Arena. “We’re not even considering that,” sporting director Max Eberl said bluntly last week. “He has all the opportunities here that top players could wish for.”
So where does that leave Slot?
Within the walls of Anfield, there is a growing conviction that the answer might not lie in the transfer market at all. The club’s hierarchy are reportedly keen to see Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, three summer recruits, line up together on a more regular basis.
It is a tantalising thought given the trio have shared the same pitch for a mere 88 minutes this campaign. With the club intent on unlocking the full potential of that attacking trident next term, the successor to Salah’s throne may already be in the building.
