Friday 29 July 2016 15:26, UK
Jurgen Klopp is pleased with Liverpool's transfer business this summer, but warned his new players they have to prove their worth to the team.
Despite missing out reported targets Mario Gotze, who rejoined Borussia Dortmund, and Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell, who signed a new deal with Leicester, Klopp has recruited seven players during the transfer window.
Klopp believes the additions of Loris Karius, Alex Manninger, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, Marko Grujic, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane has improved the quality in his squad, both on and off the pitch.
"We know more about them than they can imagine," Klopp said. "We had a long trip with scouting so when you go and talk to the player you have already scanned him.
"The most important thing is how they can play football: talent, skill, potential but then character is very important.
"Could we gather all the information on the character side? No.
"I met all of them before we made the transfer and then it is about feeling the person behind the player. We tried to do our best and at this moment we feel quite confident it has worked."
But Klopp, who insists he is happy with the way the club's transfer policy is structured, has warned his new arrivals that they have to prove their value to the team rather not their individual ability.
"The only chance to come into the team or stay in the team is about performing and doing the job," he told LFC TV.
"It doesn't mean showing your best but showing your best for the team. Sometimes it is the same, your best is best for the team but if you only show your best it cannot be the best for the team."
Klopp hinted defender Mamadou Sakho still has a future at Liverpool, despite sending the player home from Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States, but the former Borussia Dortmund boss is pleased with how the rest of his squad have gelled during their California training camp.
"There is a lot of desire and good attitude and the working mentality is good," Klopp added.
"We decided to push ourselves from the inside so we brought only quality in, we had only quality, kept only quality and gave (away) quality on loan or sold.
"If we have players who can only be happy when they start every game it will be difficult (but) if there are problems we will find solutions."
