Jurgen Klopp turned down the chance to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong for Liverpool, according to ex-Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood.
The 22-year-old completed a £67.5 million move to the Catalan giants, but Sherwood has suggested that he was offered to the Reds while he was still an Ajax player.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “I know that there was a couple of players that were offered to Jurgen Klopp.
“Frenkie de Jong, the boy from Ajax, who ended up going to Barcelona, who is a more controlled, cultured player.”
OPINION
This is quite the revelation from Sherwood if it’s true. De Jong is well on his way to becoming one of the premier midfield talents in world football, and there can be little doubt that the Reds would have loved having him amongst their ranks. The Dutchman is an all-action midfielder, and his average of one key pass, 2.1 successful dribbles, 1.7 tackles, and a pass completion rate of 92.3% per game in La Liga so far this season, as per Whoscored, illustrate a player who is just beginning to unlock the full extent of his powers. It won’t be too long before he is regarded as a genuine contender for the Ballon d’Or, and if Sherwood is correct then Liverpool fans will surely kick themselves with each passing milestone. Of course, they do have Fabinho to soften the blow of having not snapped up de Jong, but nonetheless, what a signing he would have been.
