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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has had the finger pointed at him after missing out on two transfer targets to Chelsea. Moises Caicedo is set to be followed to Stamford Bridge by Romeo Lavia despite strong interest from the Reds.
Liverpool were said to have struck agreements with Brighton and Southampton in their pursuit of the two midfielders. However, both players have decided against a move to Anfield.
Chelsea unveiled Caicedo on Monday for a British record transfer fee of £115million. Lavia, meanwhile, has decided upon a move to the Blues despite Liverpool reportedly agreeing a £60m deal with Southampton.
He claims doubts over Klopp’s long-term future at Liverpool may have played a part. Klopp is coming up to eight years in charge at Anfield and has already spent more time with the Reds than any other club in his managerial career.
Discussing why Caicedo and Lavia rejected Liverpool, Townsend said on talkSPORT: “I also wonder with Liverpool, Klopp’s been there six, seven years, do agents and players now think within the next – and I don’t think I’ve seen a better fit as a manager and a club than Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool over the last 10 years, I haven’t – but do they feel that inevitably in the next 18 months, two years maybe, that might be Jurgen’s time?”
Klopp still has three years remaining on his contract at Liverpool. He last signed an extension to his deal in April 2022.
Ally McCoist was alongside Townsend in the talkSPORT studio and suggested Chelsea’s success over the past two decades has also played a part in the two players’ decisions. He said: “In the last 20 years, Chelsea have won five Premier Leagues, Liverpool have won one.