Liverpool ready to pay £22m release clause - Jurgen Klopp wanted star instead of Mo Salah

LIVERPOOL are ready to pay £22million to sign Julian Brandt this summer - the player Jurgen Klopp wanted over Mohamed Salah.

Posted Wednesday, April 17, 2019 by Express.co.uk

The Reds already have a formidable attacking arsenal with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri in their ranks.

But Liverpool will not be sitting still this summer and Bild claim that Klopp is ready to bring Brandt to Anfield.

The Germany international has a low release clause of just £22million should Leverkusen fail to secure Champions League football for next season.

Leverkusen sit seven points clear of fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, meaning their involvement in the competition looks unlikely.

Liverpool are supposedly ready to fork out for Brandt, who has long been on Klopp's radar.

The German wanted to sign his compatriot in the summer of 2017.

But Reds chief Michael Edwards intervened, instead persuading Klopp to go for Salah instead.

Given how well the Egypt international has played over the last two years, that decision has paid off.

Liverpool ready to pay £22m release clause - Jurgen Klopp wanted star instead of Mo Salah
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants another attacking player (Image: GETTY)

Liverpool ready to pay £22m release clause - Jurgen Klopp wanted star instead of Mo Salah
Liverpool nearly signed Julian Brandt instead of Mohamed Salah (Image: GETTY)

But Brandt, it seems, is now back on their radar.

Liverpool are not the only club interested in acquiring the services of the winger, however.

Bild say that Juventus and Real Madrid are also interested in a summer transfer.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, meanwhile, hopes Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz stay at the club.

Liverpool ready to pay £22m release clause - Jurgen Klopp wanted star instead of Mo Salah
Liverpool are ready to fight Juventus and Real Madrid for Julian Brandt (Image: GETTY)

"Of course, [Brandt] and Kai are players for key moments," Tah told Omnisport.

"During games, they can play the decisive pass. Or the way Kai scored that penalty [in a 4-2 loss to RB Leipzig last Saturday], so calmly, those are the moments in which you really need them and in which they can make a difference with their qualities.

"They've showed many times in the past they can really help us and that we need them. I hope it'll continue like this.

"I get along with [Brandt] very well, he's a good friend of mine and I've known him for many years now."