Jurgen Klopp has spoken out about Owen Beck’s future amid reports claiming that Rangers have had an approach rejected by Premier League giants Liverpool for the former Dundee loanee.
Recalled from his Dens Park spell by a Liverpool side who lost both of their first-choice left-backs to injury – Kostas Tsimikas joining Scotland captain Andy Robertson on the sidelines after suffering a dislocated shoulder – Rangers ran into a brick wall in their pursuit of young Owen Beck this week.
According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool have rebuffed an ’enquiry’ from Philippe Clement’s side.
And Klopp, ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash with Arsenal, admits he could hardly have been more delighted to see Beck made good on his undoubted talent during a few months north of the border at Dundee, a place in Liverpool’s first team now potentially up for grabs.
Rangers blocked by Liverpool in Owen Beck pursuit
“(Beck’s spell at Dundee) was good,” Klopp tells the Liverpool website.
“Were (always) pretty positive about Owen, but then he had two really difficult loan spells (at Bolton and Portuguese outfit Famalicao), which was a surprise that it didn’t work out because of what we thought about Owen. But that’s how it is, especially with young boys when you send them away from home and stuff like this.
“Plenty of things can happen, and it always needs to fit really well. It must be the right manager, must be the right team. If you have another left-back there and he has experience…
“There are so many things (that) can make a loan spell not really happening.”
“That was probably, for him, the case. And now, in Dundee, it was fine and he made big steps. And now the situation here is clear. We lose two of our left-backs. So we think it makes sense if a boy we like (Beck) is available for us, we bring him back.
“That’s all.”
Philippe Clement wants a left-back
Liverpool’s stance could yet soften over the coming weeks, of course. Especially Robertson expected back before the month is out. In a further boost to Rangers’ hopes, Joe Gomez has filled in admirably on the left in recent fixtures.
The Glasgow giants have already signed striker Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves this month. They are now prioritising a left-back amid doubts over the futures of Ridvan Yilmaz and Borna Barisic. Fredrik Oppegard of PSV Eindhoven, Kai Wagner of Philadelphia Union and Hellas Verona’s former Hibernian starlet Josh Doig have also been linked.
