Liverpool Transfer News: Jurgen Klopp Discusses Allan; Christian Benteke Latest

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed he is desperate to add Allan Rodrigues de Souza to his team, but issues with his work permit have made it impossible for the youngster to feature for the Reds so far. Meanwhile, clubs reportedly won't move for striker Christian Benteke unless Liverpool are willing to pay part of his wages. 

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com (h/t Daily Mirror's Liam Corless), Klopp revealed he was blown away when he watched Allan in training, and while he's frustrated he can't use the youngster in his team, he's sure he'll play a big role for the Reds in the future:

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When I came here, one or two months later Allan was here and I said ‘who is this?’. ‘He is a player for us and the week before he became a champion in Finland.’ ‘Interesting - why didn’t he play here?’ ‘Because it’s not possible.’ And then I started learning about the FA rules and things like this.

I saw him in training and I thought ‘oh my God, what can we do to keep this boy here and bring him into the line-up?’ He’s 19 years old, an outstanding talent, a good player with a good attitude, everybody loves him, he’s a nice lad – so that’s really, really good. He's a smart player.

[…] We hope we can find a solution in the future because he will be a fixed part of the squad in the future, for sure. Now he uses this time to improve and the next step to the under-20s national team of Brazil is a great story.

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Allan joined the club from Internacional during the summer, but due to the Football Association's strict rules for foreign players, he was unable to secure a work permit and was sent on loan to Finland's SJK and Belgian side Sint-Truidense.

The 19-year-old impressed during both loan spells and was recently called up for a training camp with Brazil's under-20 side. Here's a look at some of his highlights from his time in Brazil:

The midfielder has an excellent passing range and vision, and he has impressive physical strength and high work rate, despite his slight stature. While he'll likely have to add some muscle to find success in the Premier League, his future certainly looks bright.

Liverpool already field talented Brazilians in Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, and Allan seems primed to join them in the first team in the near future. Klopp is clearly convinced of his potential, and once he returns from Belgium, he'll be like a new signing for the German to tinker with.

Meanwhile, West Ham United have reportedly emerged as suitors for striker Benteke, but the Reds may have to pay part of his £120,000-a-week wages to offload him during the summer.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

According to Gary Jacob of the Times, the Hammers likely won't offer Benteke more than £80,000 per week, roughly the wages they currently pay Andy Carroll. They're also looking at Marseille's Michy Batshuayi as an alternative, as well as Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette, who has already made it clear he wants to move to England.

Per Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, Benteke turned down the opportunity to move to China, as he's determined to rebuild his reputation in the Premier League. He's lost his starting position under Klopp, who doesn't see the Belgian as a good fit for his system, although the manager maintains he still has a use for Benteke, per Lewis.

Belgium national team manager Marc Wilmots recently told Het Nieuwsblad (h/t Belgian football expert John Chapman) things currently aren't easy for the 25-year-old:

Benteke has scored a handful of important goals for the Reds this season, and with his strong build and ability to dominate in the air, Klopp has found a use for the former Aston Villa man at times. But the German prefers to employ a more mobile striker who can press, and he's likely to invest in such a player during the summer, further limiting Benteke's chances.

He could stay with the Reds as a super-sub, but with the likes of Batshuayi and Romelu Lukaku pushing for a starting position with the national team, he's more likely to look for a different club to become a regular starter once again.

It won't be easy to find anyone willing to mach his current wages, and while Liverpool would prefer to sell the attacker without any strings attached, the Reds may have no choice if they want to move Benteke next summer.

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