Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp believes the signing of Joel Matip on a free transfer has saved the club millions in their search for a commanding centre-back.
The Cameroon international has agreed to move to Anfield when his contract with Schalke expires in the summer and the Reds boss believes their swift action has landed them a top-quality player.
Klopp said only Germany’s top four clubs would have been able to afford the defender, who has a Cameroonian father and German mother, but the player’s desire for a new challenge outside the country of his birth played into their hands.
“It is clear there were a lot of other football clubs interested. In Germany a player of this quality without a contract is really rare,” said Klopp.
“Schalke are a big club in Germany... they played the last four or five years in the Champions League and they made big offers to keep this player.
“We have maybe four clubs who can get a player like Matip when he is at Schalke – only Borussia Dortmund, although that is not possible (as their arch-rivals), Bayern obviously, maybe Leverkusen and maybe Wolfsburg.
“The rest have no chance. Then you think about other countries and we were early enough. He was an easy choice.
“I know in England it is difficult to bring in a player without paying a transfer fee but I thought it should not be a reason not to take him only because you cannot write a number behind his name.
“Ask in Germany what other clubs would have paid for him and whether there would have been a contract offer.”
Matip has made almost 250 appearances for Schalke in all competitions since his debut in 2009. He has played 44 times in Europe, of which 28 were in the Champions League.
Matip is Klopp’s second signing after the capture of Red Star Belgrade youngster Marko Grujic, who will also join at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Klopp is set to return to his homeland for the first time today when the squad fly out ahead of their Europa League last-32 tie against Augsburg.
Midfielder Lucas Leiva is fully fit after missing Sunday’s win at Aston Villa but forward Adam Lallana is not yet recovered from a calf problem.