Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants the early closure of the English transfer window to be scrapped.
Earlier this week Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino called for a realignment with the rest of Europe, whose business does not have to be concluded until September 2.
With defender Dejan Lovren still attracting interest from continental clubs, Klopp faces having to deal with a potentially difficult situation with his now fourth-choice centre-back as he has no option to replace the Croatia international.
That is why he believes it is now time to revisit the decision, brought in last year, to close the window before the first match of the Premier League season.
“I don’t care when it closes, I only think it must close at the same time (as the rest of Europe),” he said.
“When they spoke about ‘Let’s finish it before the season starts then everyone knows their squad’ – that’s a good idea. But then the rest didn’t do it and that makes no sense.
“Can somebody explain what is the benefit for the Premier League? We don’t really have a problem but for other teams, their key players are still on the market and everything can happen.
“You want a team not only together but together and focused on the future, but that is not possible as long as there is a door open.
- Premier League - August 8
- LaLiga - September 2
- Bundesliga - September 2
- Serie A - September 2
- Ligue 1 - September 2
“I don’t understand why this decision is not already reviewed at least. At first it was a good idea but it didn’t work out so let’s change it again.”
The Reds boss refused to comment specifically on whether he would consider selling Lovren.
However, the PA news agency understands they would entertain bids of £15million-plus but are not interested in a loan deal.
The only time Lovren has featured in a matchday squad so far this season is as an unused substitute in the Community Shield.
But Klopp hinted that there will come a time when he will be required.
📍 Melwood@Arsenal prep continues 👊👊 pic.twitter.com/SRVLUlGo8h— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 23, 2019
“These weeks are not the most intense of the season so you need a squad from matchday five (onwards) – if you don’t have big injury problems – because you play Carabao Cup, Champions League and Premier League obviously,” he added.
“That means you need everyone in the squad. At this moment not everyone is used maybe like he wants to be used.
“Always someone is asking, ‘He’s not playing that much…’ then you think it (a transfer) makes sense but it makes no sense.”
Liverpool host Arsenal on Saturday as the only two Premier League teams with a 100 per cent record go head-to-head.
Earlier this week Gunners boss Unai Emery joked he never wants to play the Merseysiders and while Klopp brushed that quip aside he admits it is sentiment he is happy for his players to reinforce.
“It’s not what he thinks. He made a joke. We cannot make a serious question of it,” added Klopp.
“But what I said is we want to be the team nobody wants to play against.
“We need the opponent in the game to think, ‘That’s too much. Too quick. Too strong. Too fast. Too greedy. Too angry’. Whatever.
“That’s what we want and not what people say before the game. That’s not important.
“We have to make people think at the end, ‘That was not a joy for us today’.”
