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California, July 29 (IANS) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he is unfazed by his team's big-spending rivals, adding that paying 100 million pounds (around $132 million) for one player is the wrong approach.
With Jose Mourinho's Manchester United seemingly close to sealing a deal for Juventus' French midfielder Paul Pogba for more than a 100 million pounds, the former Borussia Dortmund boss is not worried by his own club's transfer tactics.
The Reds' two biggest signings in the summer have been Southampton forward Sadio Mane for 34m pounds (around $45 million), and Newcastle United midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for 23m pounds ($30.2 million), along with names like Joel Matip and Loris Karius.
Klopp has stated this week that he is unsure if the club will be bringing more new faces into the team, but is ready to kick off the season with the current players at his disposal.
"If you bring one player in for 100m pounds and he gets injured, then it all goes through the chimney. The day that this is football, I'm not in a job anymore, because the game is about playing together. That is how everybody in football understands it. You always want to have the best, but building the group is necessary to be successful," Klopp was quoted as saying by espn.in on Thursday.
"Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players. I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money. I don't know exactly how much money we could spend because nobody has told me, 'No, you can't do this'. If I spend money, it is because I am trying to build a team, a real team. Barcelona did it. You can win championships, you can win titles, but there is a manner in which you want it."
Klopp was also quick to add that he has no interest in rivalling other clubs for the big names in the market, preferring to look for potential that can be groomed, rather than fight in "the same pool" as other big clubs.
"If you all swim in the same pool, the pool is too small -- you all go for the same players. There are a lot of players outside that pool -- good players on to the next step in their career. We try to find them."
"The best player of the last season is good to know but it is more interesting trying to find out who will be the best next year. If you knew it now that would be a really cool transfer! It would be much cheaper too. That is what we work for," the 49-year-old said.
Liverpool are currently participating in the International Champions Cup, and their next game is on Saturday against AC Milan at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
--IANS
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