On the latest edition of the Transfer Insight show our host Dan Clubbe was joined by a very special guest, ex-Liverpool forward Eric Meijer.
Meijer, who made 24 appearances for the Reds between 1999-2000, knows much more about the potential new Liverpool Sporting Director Jorg Schmadtke having played with the former German goalkeeper and having also been signed by him.
The former striker played with Schmadtke at Schalke and was in fact signed by the 53-year-old in 2003 when he joined Alemannia Aachen (during Schmadtke’s first stint as a Sporting Director), so he has spent a lot of time with the man who has been described as a maverick by the German media, claims which Meijer bullishly confirmed.
Dan spoke to the Dutchman to find out what Liverpool could be getting themselves in for.
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“He’s a very nice person. He’s very direct in what he says, and he has always had a small wallet, but he has had to build up a whole new team, that’s a specialism of Jorg. He must work with less money to get a good team and that’s why I think it could work at Liverpool.”
Given the Merseyside club’s track record with spending in the transfer market, and their overall philosophy when it comes to transfers Schmadtke sounds like a perfect fit, given his experience working on a budget and signing players who can be moulded into superstars.
“He [Schmadtke] rarely signs the finished article, Liverpool needs to be clever in signing players that Klopp can make better, this is one of Jorg’s specialities. That’s Jorg Schmadtke.”
Many people questioned the dynamic that a combination of Klopp and Schmadtke could impose at Liverpool. Two fiery Germans, who are known for being outspoken, could it be a recipe for disaster? Given Klopp’s comments about wanting to work with the ex-Wolfsburg Sporting Director you wouldn’t think so, and nor does Meijer.
“At the highest level, you want the people around you who can make the quality even better. Jurgen Klopp wants to get somebody who says no, I don’t agree. It does get better if everybody says yes Jurgen you’re right, he needs people who can confront him about the fact that he’s not perfect.”
Redmen Reacts
The deal is not yet finalised, but it seems to edging closer and closer, as the days go on. The signing of Alexis Mac Allister was confirmed over the weekend at a reported fee of 70 million pounds, which will be a large chunk of Liverpool’s summer transfer kitty. Schmadtke will be tasked with bringing at least another three players in if he is to land the role of Sporting Director and it is essential he and his staff make the right decisions.
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