Liverpool owners are not to blame as Jurgen Klopp had ‘an open cheque book’, insists former Anfield ace
Jason McAteer has defended club owners Fenway Sports Group and blamed the boss for the lack of summer transfers
FORMER midfielder Jason McAteer has revealed that Jurgen Klopp had 'virtually an open cheque book' last summer.
He defended club owners Fenway Sports Group - who have been criticised for the clubs lack of trasnfers.
Klopp struggled to bolster his defence during the summer transfer window after failing to secure a number of top targets.
The Merseyside giants have struggled to find form this season and have only managed to pick up 13 points from their first nine outings.
Speaking to BeIN Sports, McAteer said: "When we didn't get Van Dijk or a new keeper I always felt it would be a feast or famine season in terms of results - we'd either win 4-0 or get beaten 4-1.
"I felt it would be like that because of the recruitment in the summer.
"There's no lack of ambition from the owners.
"They have given the manager virtually an open cheque book. He had over £150million to spend.
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"The owners haven't lacked ambition with the money they have given him - recruitment comes down to the manager.
"Unfortunately, he didn't get the players he wanted in the market."
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"If Van Dijk had come for £70million and [Naby] Keita for £60m, having bought [Mo] Salah, you're looking at over £160m there they were willing to outlay.
"Klopp dipped into the money to buy [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain and I'm not too sure why he brought him in - we didn't need strengthening. I thought it was a bit of a strange buy.
"The problem for me is that they didn't have a plan B. If you can't get Van Dijk and you know you need a centre half then surely there must be someone else.
"He didn't go and buy someone else and now we're seeing the downside."
Liverpool's defensive crisis was highlighted last weekend during a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Tottenham at Wembley Stadium.
