We should have received more for Sterling – Klopp

Matt Stead

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp feels the Reds might have undervalued Raheem Sterling when they sold the England winger to Manchester City last summer.

Sterling suffered an indifferent first season at the Etihad, but has been one of the stars of the season alongside Kevin De Bruyne and under the tutelage of new manager Pep Guardiola.

Klopp never had the chance to work with Sterling as the England winger was sold a few months before his own arrival at Anfield.

When asked of Liverpool’s record of receiving the most revenue in player sales since 2010, Klopp said: “Suarez was involved. What was the number for Suarez?”

When told Suarez had been sold to Barcelona for £75m in summer 2014, Klopp replied: “Ah. Sterling, £80m? Yes?”

“The most important thing is that it’s the past,” Klopp said when questioned about Sterling’s form this season. “The summer was quite busy and I don’t want to have that busy transfer windows. Development doesn’t stop after a year.”

Switching the attention back towards Liverpool, Klopp continued: “Success is about having consistency. Big teams don’t change a lot. There is no need to be a selling club. We don’t need money but it’s about finding the right squad.

“I’m not that busy usually, but it was the situation. We needed to do a few things. If everything is going well then we don’t have to buy another six next year. We feel confident with the squad.

“Change is sometimes good. But not everybody was happy in the last years when we earned that number of money.

“Let’s try to bring more consistency.”