Jurgen Klopp is frustrated with Liverpool’s hierarchy over their refusal to sign Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly in January, according to reports.
Liverpool’s bid to defend their Premier League title took a huge hit earlier this season when Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez were ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with long-term injuries.
Klopp has faced an additional headache with an injury to Joel Matip, who will also be absent for the rest of the season with an ankle ligament injury.
Liverpool have been forced to play Jordan Henderson and Fabinho as their central defensive pairing, and after the 4-1 defeat at home to Manchester City on Sunday they find themselves 10 points behind Pep Guardiola’s side in the title race.
According to The Sun, Klopp has grown ‘increasingly frustrated’ with Liverpool’s transfer policy and is ‘annoyed’ that the club did not approve a deal to sign Koulibaly from Napoli in the January window.
The Senegal international has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, but Napoli have stood firm over their £100 million valuation.
The report claims that Klopp ‘made it clear’ to Liverpool’s hierarchy that Koulibaly was his top target.
Speaking before the transfer window closed about Liverpool’s pursuit of a new defender, Klopp said: ‘We talk about a centre-half, and yes, it would help 100 percent. We discuss the situation pretty much on a daily basis, and I make recommendations.
‘But I cannot spend the money. I don’t make these decisions. There are people who are responsible for the whole thing, and I cannot make their decisions.
‘When I say this, I know of course what we would do in an ideal world, but the world is not ideal. So we have to deal with the situation.’
Liverpool ended up signing two central defenders on deadline day as Ben Davies joined from Preston North End, while Ozan Kabak arrived on loan from Schalke for the remainder of the season.
Davies, who was regarded as one of the best defenders in the Championship before his move to Liverpool, was signed for £1.6m.
Kabak, meanwhile, has moved to Anfield on a temporary deal but Liverpool have the option to make it permanent for £18m.
Both players are yet to make their debut for Liverpool but Kabak was an unused substitute for the defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
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