23 Apr 2016

Anfield Update: Liverpool Reps fly out to watch 'unbelievable' record-breaking attacker. Klopp's orders

Last week, Sport1.de claimed that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will 'pull out all the stops' this summer to sign BVB starlet Christian Pulisic, and new reports this week suggest that Klopp has taken the first concrete step towards signing the coveted attacker.

According to the Daily Mail:

"Klopp has personally instructed his scouts to monitor Christian Pulisic...and Klopp has put Pulisic on Liverpool’s long-term radar, viewing him as one of the premier talents in Europe".

Klopp brought Pulisic into Dortmund's first-team squad last season, and after watching him in training, he enthused:

"He did a good job. He can kick the ball around really well. And in a very intense training session with narrow spaces, he did not stand out in a negative way. That is a real sign of quality."

Talk about being damned by faint praise (!) Some info about Pulisic, who has scored two goals in his last two games for Dortmund:

* 12 goals/assists in 14 games for BVB's U19s. 11 goals/assists in 8 games for the U17s. 11 apps for Dortmund's senior team (2 goals/assists).

* Youngest-ever player to appear in a World Cup qualifier for the US national team.

* Jan 2015: U.S. U-17 manager Richie Williams raved: ""When [he's] playing that No. 10 position, Pulisic isn't scared, he's willing to take anybody on and he's super competitive".

* Feb 2016: German newspaper Der Westen published an article comparing Pulisic to Bayern Munich attacker Mario Gotze, who also came through the ranks of BVB's youth academy.

* Mar 2016: Ex-BVB Coach David Wagner's view: "I spoke with Jurgen Klinsmann a year ago about Christian's unbelievable quality for his age. He's one of the biggest talents I've seen play in Germany."

Apr 2016: Jurgen Klinnsman's assessment"He [Pulisic] is a very promising talent. We won't overshoot him with expectations because he's in an environment where they [Dortmund] keep him grounded".

The possible pull of Jurgen Klopp aside, I don't see why Pulisic would swap Dortmund - who are in the Champions League next season - for Liverpool, who are struggling to maintain a top-8 position in the league. Pulisic is playing in the first-team at the age of 17, and he's just made his international debut, so things are clearly going well for him in Germany.

In my view, it'll be a massive mistake for Pulisic to swap dortmund for Anfield. Where's the fire? Just stay and develop alongside great players like Reus, Gundogan, and Aubameyang. It's madness to leave such a great club at the age of 17.

Author: Jaimie K


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