Jurgen Klopp reveals transfer plans and insists big stars are staying put
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says this summer will be all about developing his current crop of players and not a number of signings.
Klopp was questioned about Liverpool's transfer plans this summer ahead of their meeting with Fulham at Craven Cottage this weekend.
Liverpool brought in Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri for a combined £170m last summer, as well as Virgil van Dijk for £75m in the window before.
However, Klopp says his plans for this summer will be more about developing the players that are already here, insisting he won't spend at "that level" again.
He was also keen to reiterate how none of his big stars will leave at the end of the season, amidst speculative reports over the futures of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk.
"For sure there's no need for that level," Klopp said.
"I don't want to talk exactly what we will do, but I don't think this is a team at the moment where we have to spend the big money or whatever.
"The best way to do it is bring together a group of players, try to develop them altogether and then stay together for a while.
"That was maybe the main problem of Liverpool for the last decade. When they had a good team after a season they went all over the world.
"That will not happen this year for sure."
The Reds are one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League ahead of this weekend's fixtures.
With Manchester City not in league action this weekend, Klopp's side have the chance to build on their midweek win over Bayern with a valuable three points against Fulham to take them to the summit of the table.
Klopp insists that the Reds must begin to believe in themselves, although it may take some time for them to "get used to" their huge potential.
"It's massive. I think the steps are really obvious but it is still about a natural confidence," he said when asked about the squad's room for improvement.
"We have to start looking at ourselves like how other teams see us. When you think about how Bayern faced us here, I saw Bayern playing a lot of times in the last years but I never saw them being that defensive-orientated.
"When Manchester City came here, it was similar. Wow. They had a lot of respect for us but I am not sure we always have the same amount of respect for ourselves.
"The team believing in itself is a normal part of development. It is better everybody else says you look good rather than you running around saying: 'I look really good.' It is still the same information but it's different!
"It is a good sign of character, but it is normal that we have to get used to our potential.
"For sure it will come, step by step, that is why I was so happy for the game at Bayern.
"There was a little sign at least for that. All the other things, the boys have so much space for improvement in all departments. So many things to come.
"For the future we have to be lucky that they all stay healthy and we can work with them and use the little time we have in training to bring the group together so that we don't have to develop only in games which is modern football.
"In pre-season if we have three weeks altogether that would be great. We can make a step in that department. It is all positive in how the club is at the moment."
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