"What are we missing" - Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool signing a midfielder this summer
Jurgen Klopp has shut down talk that Liverpool need to sign a midfield player this summer transfer window.
Speaking to GOAL, as quoted by Anfield Watch's Twitter account, the Liverpool boss hinted that the Reds don't need to sign a midfielder this summer due to a potential system change.
He said: "Fabinho, (Jordan) Henderson, Thiago, (James) Milner, (Naby) Keita, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho, (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain. Now you tell me what kind of player are we missing?
"One who is offensive, 1.95m and arrives into the box to head balls in? OK, apart from that! We have three players in the squad who can easily play as a No.6 - Fabinho, of course, but Hendo and Milly played it fine.
“Creativity? If we bring in a player just for that, we immediately make it more difficult for Harvey, Curtis and Fabio. They can all play different positions as well of course, Curtis can play a line higher and Harvey and Fabio can play there too. Fine.
"We can play a different system as well, where we might only need two midfielders, but then all these guys can play as a No.10 in the new system. So where is the need for a midfielder? I wait for the day when somebody comes to me and tells me why, exactly.”
Anfield Watch Verdict
If Klopp is planning on playing a 4-2-3-1 formation next season, then we probably don't need to sign a midfielder this summer. There will be more attacking players on the pitch than midfielders.
At the end of next season, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita are all out of contract. Whilst it's likely that Keita will extend his stay at Anfield, the others will probably leave for free.
If that's the case, then Liverpool will definitely need to buy a midfielder in the near future.
We will back Klopp, who is a world-class manager, to bring in correct player. We'll have to wait and see who that is though.