Klopp wanted both Thiago and Isco.
Outspoken Borussia Dortmund manager Juergen Klopp has revealed that the German club tried to sign both Isco and Thiago Alcantara this summer.
The Spanish pair were previously targeted by Manchester City and Manchester United, but eventually Thiago linked up with former boss Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, whilst the winger opted for Real Madrid.
Klopp has been honest about Dortmund’s attempts the sign the Spain under-21 internationals themselves.
“We also thought about signing Isco. We are not stupid. We had a look at Thiago Alcantara as well. We saw all of them,” the 46-year-old was quoted by goal.com.
“It was pretty clear that we would not stand a chance in the race for Isco’s signature, though.”
In the end Isco signed for Madrid in a £23m deal from Malaga, with the Santiago Bernabeu eventually proving too big a lure for the Spaniard.
Thiago meanwhile was swayed by Guardiola’s presence at Bayern, with the midfielder previously playing under the coach for four years at the Nou Camp.
Klopp will therefore be seeing a lot more of the 22-year-old as the Barca youth product struts his stuff with Dortmund’s fierce rivals at the Allianz Arena.
The Bundesliga and Champions League runners-up targeted Isco and Thiago as the club sought to replace Mario Goetze – a £31.5m departure this summer, also to Bayern.
However, whilst Klopp couldn’t tempt the Spaniards to the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund did convince highly coveted attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan to join the squad for £24m.
The German side have also bought Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang from Saint-Etienne and Werder Bremen defender Sokratis.
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