Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gave a lengthy interview to German website Sport1, where he spoke about various topics including the Premier League, the Bundesliga, the transfer window in England, the German national team and a few other subjects.
The Reds have invested heavily in this calendar year to strengthen the squad, starting with the arrival of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton earlier in January.
On the other hand, the Bundesliga sides spent the least amount of money when compared to clubs from other other leagues in the continent.
Klopp was asked as to how German clubs can challenge in the European competition, especially after no clubs from that country have made it to the final of either the Champions League or the Europa League since 2013.
“I don’t think that in Germany there is a culture in which a player’s transfer worth €150m would be tolerated. In Germany, a free transfer is perfect. It’s different here in England. A free transfer means: ‘Costs nothing? No good’” Klopp told Sport1.
“With Shaqiri, for example, people wondered what we’d do with him here. He cost between €12-13m and Stoke were relegated from the Premier League. He’s a top player and everyone loves him here. That’s a big difference compared to Germany.”
“A few years ago, the big topic in Germany was Bayern having a reserve of €100m. You cannot even get half a Neymar for that today.”
