10 Oct 2015

Anfield Mega-Deal? Liverpool want 'extraordinary' £25m Klopp-favourite who Carra slated for being a 'crock'

Earlier this week, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan claimed that Jurgen Klopp is a 'great fit' for Liverpool, and only one day after the Reds officially confirmed Klopp as the new manager, Gundogan is being linked with a January move to Anfield.

When asked about Klopp's move to Liverpool, Gundogan enthused:

"I think Klopp would be a great fit at many clubs and I believe also at Liverpool. It's something I can see happening. I think Klopp is capable of helping many top clubs in the world."

Liverpool were linked with Gundogan during the January transfer window, and at the time, the £25m-rated midfielder revealed his ambition to play in England. He told reporters:

"Playing outside Germany is one of my big goals. If one day I leave here, I'd like to play in Spain or for one of the big teams in England."

Speculation arose again in April, and according to the Daily Express today:

"Borussia Dortmund midfielder [Ilkay] Gundogan [is] high on a list of potential new recruits [for Liverpool]".

This is only the beginning. Over the next three months, Liverpool will probably be linked with every member of Dortmund's first-team squad, and history suggests that - like most managers - Klopp will bring in one or two of his former players.

Klopp certainly rates Gundogan, and during the 2013-14 season, Liverpool's new manager outlined what makes the German international so special:

"Many players can play in a small space, play fast and do a lot of great things, but to have such vision, such a passing game, such an eye for the situation, is extraordinary and makes him [Gundogan] an extraordinary player."

High praise indeed, but Gundogan - recently described by Jamie Carragher as a 'crock who can't get a game for Dortmund - should not be on Klopp's wish-list, though, for one simple reason: He's more injury prone than Daniel Sturridge.

* 13 separate injuries since the 2010-11 season. 13!

* 501 days (16.7 months) on the sidelines.

* 108 games missed in that time.

* Recently spent 403 days out with a spinal injury.

In my view, irrespective of talent/potential, Liverpool should avoid any player with a significant injury history.

In fact, this should be one of the club's official transfer policies. It's just not worth it, and the club is already crawling with perpetual sicknotes.

Under Klopp, it's imperative that Liverpool sign strong, robust players with no recent injury history, and Gundogan doesn't fit that description.

If Gundogan's body can't handle the Bundesliga, how is he going to survive in the rough and tumble of the Premier League?

Author: Jaimie K


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