Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool must accept 'what you can do' over Jude Bellingham transfer saga | 1 News Day, breaking news, sport, business, politics, Science & Health

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool have to be realistic with “what you can do” in the transfer market in response to the club ending their pursuit of Jude Bellingham.

Liverpool’s long-standing interest in signing the Borussia Dortmund midfielder appears to be over due to the potential cost involved to complete a deal.

The club will be active in this summer’s window as they look to overhaul their squad and are targeting at least two new midfielders, and Klopp is accepting of working with the money available.

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Ahead of their Monday Night Football fixture with Leeds, Klopp said: “There’s nothing to say about it to be honest. If we don’t speak about players we sign or not, why would we now speak about this kind of speculation and this kind of news? It’s really nothing to say about.

“It’s not about Jude Bellingham my answer now – why do we constantly talk about things we theoretically can’t have? We cannot have six players in the summer for £100m [each], for example, everybody would say that’s clear.

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“You have to realise what you can do and then work with that. How much money do we have available and then work with that.

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After Liverpool appeared to end their interest in signing Jude Bellingham, The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew and The Telegraph’s Jason Burt discuss who are now favourites for his signature.

“We are not children. Ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they say a Ferrari, you wouldn’t say that’s a good idea, it’s too expensive and you cannot drive it.

“It’s what can you do and then you do it, and work with that. It’s always how I’ve worked. Whatever we need and what we want, we try absolutely everything to get it. You have to accept that this or that is not possible for us. We’ll step aside and do different stuff.”

‘It has been dealt with really well’

Klopp is happy to move on from the controversy surrounding last week’s incident involving defender Andy Robertson and assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis.

Hatzidakis will face no further action after appearing to elbow Robertson while the two walked off at half-time in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, with the FA satisfied with the assistant’s explanation that there was no intent.

Klopp said: “It’s now dealt with and really well in the end. I wasn’t aware of it during the game, only after.

“I spoke to Robbo and all the other guys, not to the assistant.”

How does Liverpool spending stack up?

By Sky Sports’ Adam Smith:

One of Liverpool’s greatest feats has been achieving recent success with a comparatively low £246m net spend on signings since the summer of 2016 – more than a third of the sums splashed by rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

In fact, it’s less than 10 other teams. Wolves have spent more at £257m – and that figure excludes spending during two seasons in the Championship during the timeframe. Aston Villa have spent more and in merely four top-flight seasons. Newcastle have invested more and weren’t promoted until 2017.

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Liverpool secured the signing Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for £45m in January to boost Klopp’s all-star front line but the Netherlands forward remained the only recruit during the winter window. Summer signing Darwin Nunez is the club’s all-time record transfer at £85m.

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Arguably, the ageing side needs an injection of youthful energy in the middle of the park to maintain their high-intensity style – but the club has not spent a penny on midfielders since the turn of 2021.

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Arthur Melo has clocked only 13 minutes for the Reds since signing on loan from Juventus in September last year after undergoing surgery on a thigh injury in October, while fellow midfielder Naby Keita looks set to leave the club when his contract expires this summer.