Jurgen Klopp has started plotting Liverpool‘s summer with meticulous detail as he warned his squad they cannot get left behind again.
Many of Liverpool’s players will be involved in internationals until the middle of June but Klopp has no worries about them being burnt out; they will have a short-break immediately after their final Premier League fixture at Southampton then another fortnight at the end of June.
Klopp will report to work on July 8, with the international contingent returning on July 11. A training camp will then be held in Germany before Liverpool head to Singapore in late July to play a couple of games, one of which will be against Bayern Munich.
Last summer’s pre-season was a source of frustration to Klopp, who didn’t have enough time to get the work in that he wanted and also consisted of trip to the Far East that didn’t carry any kind of benefits the manager wanted.
It will be different this year, however. Klopp, in an ideal world, wants the bulk of Liverpool’s transfer business completed by July 8 and he has also made it clear that he expects minds to be focused on setting the right tone immediately.
‘This year must be different,’ said Klopp. ‘We have to step up. And we have to prepare that in the pre-season and that’s why I want them back together as quick as somehow possible, respecting the necessity of holidays.
‘I know that and I respect that. I want them to go on holiday for as long as possible but, for this year, we have to make sure we are together as soon as possible and can go from there. The next season stands above everything, to be honest.’
Klopp, who says Liverpool’s quest to appoint a new Sporting Director to replace Julian Ward remains ongoing, will sign a number of midfielders during the next window, with Fulham’s Joao Palhinha among the list of options.
Liverpool have done a lot of business with Fulham in recent years, including signing Fabio Carvalho last summer.
He started the campaign brightly but has only played 114 minutes since the World Cup and it could be that the 20-year-old goes out on loan; his former club have been linked.
‘There is no decision in any direction yet,’ said Klopp. ‘What I can say is that this week in training he was exceptional again. He’s really outstanding.
‘So, yes, we will talk to each other and then we will see what we will do. What he wants, what I think – but there’s no decision yet.’
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
