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Liverpool want Ousmane Dembele for £85m even though he trashed Jurgen Klopp’s house
JURGEN KLOPP is ready to splash a club-record £85million in January on Barcelona misfit Ousmane Dembele.
The Liverpool boss wants the France winger, 21, to boost his team’s Premier League title chances in the second half of the season.
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And he is prepared to break the transfer record AGAIN — beating the £75m spent on Virgil van Dijk - to rescue Dembele after a frustrating first year at the Nou Camp.
Barca boss Ernesto Valverde dropped Dembele from his matchday squad to face Real Betis at the weekend after missing training with a “stomach bug”.
France coach Didier Deschamps has also revealed he is among the players with a habit of turning up late for training.
But Dembele’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, has defended the ex-Borussia Dortmund youngster and says his client wants to stay.
Remember when Dembele trashed Klopp's house?
IT appears Jurgen Klopp remains a fan of Ousmane Dembele... despite the winger wrecking his house.
The hilarious incident occurred last year as Dembele attempted to force through his move from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona.
Liverpool boss Klopp was the winger's landlord - having previously been in charge of the Germans.
And Dembele may well have lost his deposit after leaving the place in a state.
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But Klopp looks set to test Barca’s resolve for the player they bought from Bundesliga for £135.5million at the start of last season.
He has a healthy return of six goals and two assists this season but focus has been on his discipline after a rapid rise to the top.
Just over two years ago he was at Rennes in France making a name for himself and getting Europe’s top clubs looking to snap him up.
Klopp admitted his interest in Dembele back in May when the Barca forward was left on the bench for El Clasico against Real Madrid.
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Klopp said: “Is he on the market? Now I’m interested.”
He fits the bill for Klopp and Kop sporting director Michael Edwards looking for a wide forward.
Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane led Klopp’s team to the Champions League final last season and they remain unbeaten this season in the Premier League — and Dembele could give them an edge in the second half of the season.
Klopp has spent £177m this year on the likes of van Dijk, Alisson and Naby Keita but is keen to add more firepower.
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