Jurgen Klopp Rejects Interest in Liverpool Academy Player Luke Chambers
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that there was “a lot of interest” in academy player Luke Chambers over the summer, but the German “didn’t blink” before rejecting it.
Chambers, who joined the club at the age of six, made his full debut for the first team on Thursday night in the 5-1 thrashing of Toulouse. The left-back had been expected to spend the season away from Anfield, following up a half-season loan at Kilmarnock with offers from Bayer Leverkusen, Swansea, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday.
Klopp explained that he intervened to keep Chambers at Liverpool, saying: “He had a really good year last year, in Scotland. [There] was a lot of interest there in the summer, but I didn’t blink for a second then I thought I cannot let him go.”
Chambers Remains on Merseyside
Chambers has remained on Merseyside and been a regular with the U21s, as well as training with and now playing for the senior side. With Andy Robertson likely to miss the remainder of the year after shoulder surgery, there is a high chance Chambers is given more game time in the coming weeks.
Klopp added: “I think that, in the moment, when our U21s, when they’re all together, that’s a super-strong side. That’s important as well. They train with us. The session we had [on Wednesday], the minus-one session, a proper minus-one session in the longer period between Premier League and the Europa League game, you don’t get that somewhere, this quality like this. It’s really important that the boys go through that as well.”
Klopp Trusts Young Players
Klopp was clearly convinced in the ability of his young players, as he also trusted Jarell Quansah, Calum Scanlon and James McConnell to come in against Toulouse. The likelihood is that some will now form part of his side to face Bournemouth in the fourth round of the League Cup.
Chambers’ debut was a long time coming, but it is clear that Klopp has faith in his academy players and is willing to give them an opportunity. The German’s decision to reject interest in Chambers shows his commitment to developing young talent and giving them a chance to shine.