Liverpool legend Ronnie Whelan thinks Jurgen Klopp had a relatively quiet winter transfer window as the manager felt his targets were not ready to make the switch in January, while the current Reds squad needed to be assessed.
The German, who took charge of Liverpool in October, bought Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade in January before sending back the midfielder to the Serbian team on a loan deal for the remainder of the season.
Besides Grujic, Liverpool roped in defender Steven Caulker on loan from Queens Park Rangers; the England international was more of an emergency signing as the Merseyside giants at that moment were seriously depleted in the central defensive areas, owing to a number of injuries.
The lack of transfer activity has not affected Liverpool’s season, with the club enjoying good run in cup competitions, in addition to making a late push for a top four finish.
And Whelan, who praised Klopp’s transfer business at Borussia Dortmund, feels the 48-year-old is keeping close tabs on his targets before deciding whether to make moves for the players in the summer.
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He explained on LFC TV after the Europa League game on Thursday: “That’s why he didn’t do anything in January. I’m not saying his scouting network wasn’t set up, but it wasn’t the right time to get these players, we don’t exactly need them at this time.
“It was let's get them ready to see if we can get them in the summer.
“He did very very well at Dortmund with the young players he brought in, made them into much better players and made Dortmund into a very very good team.”
Schalke’s Joel Matip is set to join Liverpool next season, with the defender already signing a pre-contract agreement with the Premier League outfit.
