Jurgen Klopp’s remarks about Manchester City and Newcastle United have come back into the spotlight as Liverpool approach a summer spending total of over £300 million.
The Reds have secured six new players, highlighted by Florian Wirtz’s club-record transfer worth £116 million including add-ons. Other signings include Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Armin Pecsi. Additionally, Hugo Ekitike joined for £79 million, marking another major investment by Liverpool.
The club’s transfer activity isn’t over yet, with reports indicating that Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Newcastle’s striker Alexander Isak, who is keen to leave Tyneside. This has been a remarkable transfer window—one Klopp might have expected to see happening at Manchester City or Newcastle, rather than at Anfield.
Klopp’s Criticism of Man City & Newcastle Spending Re-Emerges:
“We cannot act like them.”
Throughout his nine years as Liverpool manager, Klopp never held back his opinions. Reflecting on why Liverpool struggled to keep up with Manchester City in title races, he said before a match against Pep Guardiola’s team in October 2022 (via Sky Sports):
“No one can compete with City. They have the best team globally and they sign the best striker on the market, no matter the cost.”
He was referring to Erling Haaland, who moved to City from Borussia Dortmund that summer after triggering a £51 million release clause:
“City won’t like hearing this, nobody will, but that’s the reality. What can Liverpool do? We can’t behave like them. It’s impossible.”
Liverpool’s spending this transfer window has already eclipsed City’s record summer of 2023, when the latter spent £233.5 million on players like Josko Gvardiol (£77.5 million) and Jeremy Doku (£55 million).
Since the Saudi Public Investment Fund took over Newcastle in 2021, the Magpies have become regular Champions League contenders by splashing big on signings including Isak (£63 million), Sandro Tonali (£55 million), and Anthony Gordon (£45 million).
Klopp highlighted the financial power at Eddie Howe’s disposal during his critique of Liverpool’s inability to compete financially:
“There are clearly three clubs in world football who can spend as much as they want. It’s all legal, everything’s above board, but they can do whatever they want. Competing with them? It’s impossible.”
He added:
“I heard Newcastle’s former sporting director Dan Ashworth say there’s no financial ceiling at the club—he’s right. Newcastle have no limits. Congratulations to them—other clubs do.”
Transfer Spending Comparison:
Manchester City:
Josko Gvardiol (£77.6m)
Matheus Nunes (£54m)
Jeremy Doku (£55.5m)
Mateo Kovacic (£25m)
Claudio Echeverri (£12.5m)
Total: £224.6m
Liverpool:
Florian Wirtz (£100m)
Hugo Ekitike (£79m)
Milos Kerkez (£40m)
Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m)
Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m)
Mate Kovacic (£25m)
Armin Pecsi (£1.5m)
Total: £279m
Klopp has faced criticism from fans highlighting Liverpool’s heavy spending since this video. One user on X wrote:
“Liverpool’s spending since this video: Endo – £16m, Gravenberch – £34m, Mac Allister – £55m (with add-ons), Szoboszlai – £60m, Mamardashvili – £29m, Chiesa – £10m, Wirtz – £116m (with add-ons), Ekitike – £79m (with add-ons), Kerkez – £40m, Frimpong – £30m. Comical.”
Another commented:
“Has aged like fine English dairy farm milk.”
The priciest signing during Klopp’s tenure was Virgil van Dijk, who joined Liverpool from Southampton for £75 million in January 2018. The club was on course to break the British transfer record in summer 2023.
Liverpool had agreed a £111 million deal with Brighton for Moises Caicedo, but the midfielder chose Chelsea instead. However, they could shatter that record this summer if they manage to sign Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who is reportedly valued at £150 million.
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