Anfield icon Ray Houghton backs Jurgen Klopp to bring in a couple of new faces on Merseyside in this summer’s transfer window to bolster his first-team names in time for the new season.
Liverpool have so far acquired only Ibrahima Konate this summer with the highly-promising France U21 central defender joining Liverpool from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on a five-year-long agreement.
Despite being linked with a host of top names across the continent, Liverpool are yet to intensify their interest in any of the names doing the rounds, with many of the belief that Klopp does need to sign a new midfield player in the wake of Gini Wijnaldum’s Anfield exit and subsequent move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Brighton’s midfield maestro Yves Bissouma has been touted as the viable target for the Merseysiders but Liverpool have Arsenal to fend off competition from to land the player’s signature.
Former Liverpool man Ray Houghton, while speaking to The Express, believes that his old club will spend on new signings this summer with Klopp keen on a couple of players to bolster his ranks but it remains to be seen the financial constraints within which the Reds gaffer will be seen operating this time around.
“I’m sure Jurgen will have two or three players but it’s just whether the funding is there. I don’t know what the money situation is like at Liverpool, it’s something I don’t get involved in.
“What I do know is that if you want to be competitive, you have got to be adding to your squad. You need at least two or three fresh faces each year, even if it’s just for different voices in the changing room or to give you a different dimension when you play.
“It all depends on how much money Jurgen has to spend and who the targets are within their price range.
“I’m sure he’s looking at centre-backs and a centre-midfielder.
“Gini Wijnaldum has gone, which is a big loss for Liverpool because he was so consistent, so that will be an area that they will be looking at.
“James Milner isn’t going to go on forever. Jordan Henderson has had his injury problems over the last year or so.
“These are the things that Jurgen will factor in with what he needs to do. What you need in that midfield area is players who you can rely on.
“That’s what Wijnaldum was, he was always there and wouldn’t have missed a day’s training, I would imagine. But those players are very few and far between.
“I think there is enough quality in attack so I don’t think that’s an area where they will be looking to strengthen much, unless you have an Mbappe become available and you have the funding to buy him.”
