Liverpool FC Forum

Speaking to the Financial Times, Liverpool's former director of research Ian Graham has suggested Jurgen Klopp's growing power over transfer activity at the club was key to the Reds choosing to move for Nunez over Isak.

Graham worked at the club between 2012 and 2023 to help use data analysis to aid their transfer policy, and now serves as chief executive of Ludonautics, a sports advisory firm.

He explained how Klopp had previously been persuaded by the recruitment team to sign Mo Salah over Julian Brandt in 2017, a decision which proved a masterstroke.

Following success in the Premier League and Champions League, the balance of power had altered with Klopp apparently pushing for the signing of Nunez in 2022.

'Jurgen created a lot of success for the club, so it’s understandable why it moved in that direction,' Graham said.

'In 2022, he signed Darwin Nunez instead of Alexander Isak. Both players, if you look at top young centre-forwards in Europe, they would be number one and two — or two and three but [Erling] Haaland was going to [Manchester] City and out of our price range.

'Jurgen preferred Nunez. It would be very churlish of me to say, “It’s terrible that Jurgen had his choice”, when in the past Jürgen had been persuaded by me and my colleagues of a different choice.

Bad mistake I guess, imagine we had Isak, we would've done some damage that season.

I also recall how Klopp was after Gotze but thankfully we got Mane instead. Don't think Gotze wanted to come here anyway. Mane was levels above him during peak period.

redshade » Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:27 pm wrote:Bad mistake I guess, imagine we had Isak, we would've done some damage that season.

I also recall how Klopp was after Gotze but thankfully we got Mane instead. Don't think Gotze wanted to come here anyway. Mane was levels above him during peak period.

I wonder if this was the catalyst for Edwards and co leaving and then subsequently Klopp because it seem to all come out of the blue.

redshade » Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:27 pm wrote:Bad mistake I guess, imagine we had Isak, we would've done some damage that season.

I also recall how Klopp was after Gotze but thankfully we got Mane instead. Don't think Gotze wanted to come here anyway. Mane was levels above him during peak period.

I wonder if this was the catalyst for the internal upheaval that happened and ultimately Klopp and his whole staff leaving because it seem to all come out of the blue.