Klopp struggling to understand Chelsea´s spending spree

Jurgen Klopp is confused over how Chelsea’s transfer business is possible after the Blues brought in eight January signings.

Chelsea signed World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a British record transfer fee of £106.8million (€121m) on Tuesday, pushing their January spending past £300m.

That capped a hectic window for Chelsea, who splashed out to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Andrey Santos, Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and Malo Gusto, who will spend the rest of the season on loan at Lyon.

Joao Felix also signed on loan from Atletico Madrid as, with Chelsea sat 10th in the Premier League, co-owner Todd Boehly gave head coach Potter an array of options with which to mount a push for the top four.

In contrast, Klopp’s Liverpool, above Chelsea on goal difference in ninth, only brought in one signing, bringing in Cody Gakpo from PSV in January for a reported initial fee of around £37million (€42m).

Klopp is baffled over how Chelsea’s spending is allowed in relation to Financial Fair Play regulations, telling reporters: “I don’t understand this part of the business about what you can and can’t do. It’s a big number.

“I don’t understand how it’s possible with all the things around, but obviously it’s not up to me to explain how it works.”

When asked for his personal views on Chelsea’s record-breaking January dealings, the Liverpool manager joked: “I say nothing without my lawyer.”

Despite the eye-watering fees Chelsea have paid out, Klopp feels it could be money well spent with the quality of players they have signed.

“They’re all really good players,” Klopp said. “From that point of view, congratulations.

“The players they brought in, I didn’t think once ‘why did they do that?’ They will play well together.”

Let’s play football! #CheFul pic.twitter.com/x0DAfRB0tH

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 3, 2023

This term, Liverpool have failed to hit the high standards they have set since Klopp’s arrival at the club in 2015, during which they have won both the Champions League and Premier League.

Liverpool have been hit by injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, while some players have struggled for form.

One such example is midfielder Fabinho, who has been benched in recent games for 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic and was fortunate not get sent off for a rash tackle in Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion last week.

“He knows he’s not flying and that he needs to work back,” Klopp said of Fabinho. “That’s how it is.

“It’s really helpful we have Stefan. You need a guy who wins challenges but plays football as well. Fab did that for us for plenty of years, absolutely brilliant. Best in the position for a long time and at the moment it’s not clicking, that’s true as well.

“He’s not the happiest person on the planet, but he understands the decision.”