Bullet swerved, it seems.
Liverpool fans have every right to be very excited about their future under Jurgen Klopp. His side is already one of the most thrilling in Europe, with a growing reputation for swashbuckling football and the potential to beat anyone on their day. Sure, there’s issues to address, but the Anfield hierarchy seem to be doing just that.
The signing of Virgil van Dijk is as symbolic as it was necessary. They desperately needed a genuinely world-class defensive talisman to marshall the backline, but it’s also another example of a player turning down stellar opportunities elsewhere to join Klopp at Anfield. There’s a real glamour about playing for Liverpool these days.
One player who was heavily linked to joining his compatriot on Merseyside was Germany’s next big thing, Leon Goretzka. The 22-year-old midfielder is heralded as his country’s new superstar, and his availability for free as a Bosman made him one of January’s most coveted assets.
Sadly for Liverpool, he seems to have chosen to sign a pre-contract agreement for Bayern Munich instead. But such is the optimism around Merseyside, that the Anfield faithful don’t seem that bothered. It may seem a surprising reaction to outsiders, but the sense is they can do without.
The reasoning his varied. Some argue that Goretzka would have been a luxury signing, and that missing out on him is a ‘blessing in disguise’; others suggest he’s not much better than Emre Can, and a defensive midfielder is a more urgent acquisition; another argument is he’s overrated, and wouldn’t combine well with Keita.
One thing’s for sure – Liverpool are on the up, regardless of the German’s decision…
If Goretzka goes to Bayern then he’s a bottle job and I don’t want him anyway! Anyone who moves to Bayern rather than the prem is a bottlejob IMO!
— Charlotte Webster (@CharWebster7) December 31, 2017
we don’t need goretzka we’ve got emre can whom I love and rate very highly x
— lesbian al gaib (@lauraw97_) December 31, 2017
Looks like Goretzka is off to Bayern, despite strong reports saying he was ours over the past few days. Never mind, Keita the better player anyway. DMC more important, too, which Goretzka isn’t.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 31, 2017
Don’t care about Goretzka we got VVD
— COLIN MCCOMBE (@YMccombe) December 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/smartblackboy/status/938551964320792576
https://twitter.com/George__O/status/947582186093535232
So Goretzka has decided to snub #LFC for Bayern. Good luck to them as we will get a better alternative #LFCFamily #YNWA
— Allan Matt 🇦🇺 (@AllanMat) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Reipha/status/947516008234758145
https://twitter.com/Goalanke/status/947565552440152064
Goretzka is just a slightly improved Emre Can. We don't need another poor man's Gerrard in our team
— Reza Pahlevi (@_pahlevi_) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/KlippityKlopp12/status/947511442017783809