Jurgen Klopp transfer target opens up on Liverpool ‘dream’ after visit to Anfield

Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven is a reported summer target for Liverpool and the defender hasn’t shone away about his desire to play at Anfield one day

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp(Getty Images)

Micky van de Ven has revealed it would be “dream” to play at Anfield amid rumours circulating over a potential move to Liverpool this summer.

The 22-year-old has started in all but one of Wolfsburg’s matches this season as they finished eighth, narrowly missing out on a European place. But his form has already attracted suitors from elsewhere, with Liverpool and a number of other Premier League clubs interested in his signature.

Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke are said to be keen on Van de Ven and it may not take much persuading for the defender to move to Merseyside. He has already visited Anfield as a fan and admitted it would be a dream come true for him to play for the Reds.

“I once went to the Liverpool stadium with my dad,” he told AZ WAZ, via The Anfield Talk. “That was over Christmas on Boxing Day. Liverpool vs Arsenal. That was madness. Then when ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ comes [on] – that’s a goose bump moment, that was very cool. It’s a dream to play there.”

Liverpool’s summer priority is no doubt going to be fixated on the midfield, however, with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all set to leave the club at the end of June. Arthur will also return to Juventus at the end of his disastrous season-long loan spell.

However, Klopp and Schmadtke are moving to try and seal their top targets early. Liverpool confirmed the appointment of German Schmadtke on Tuesday morning after the departure of Julian Ward and his role is to ensure the Reds get their recruitment right in the short-term.

Schmadtke arrives on Merseyside initially on a short-term deal and admits that as far as his remit goes, its very much a Klopp-down approach. Speaking about his new role, he told Sport1: “The input of the coach in transfers is greater in England than in Germany, where a sports board or a sports director holds everything in one hand. Klopp sets the priorities.

“We then work with data analysts and scouts, he will then choose from a list of players who he’d like to work with. After that, I will approach the targets and clubs. And in the end, the owners must also be satisfied with the investments. I’ll start on 1 June. If we like each other, the cooperation can go beyond the transfer window. Let’s see. Then we will continue this or not.”