Jurgen Klopp was ‘convinced’ over Ousmane Dembele move before Barcelona U-turn

Jurgen Klopp was reportedly convinced that Liverpool would successfully sign Ousmane Dembele this summer, only for the Barcelona star to reject a move to the Premier League.

Dembele signed for the La Liga giants for €105million back in August 2017, but injuries have hampered his time at the Camp Nou.

He made just five appearances last term and only made his comeback from a hamstring tear in a pre-season friendly earlier this month.

The uncertainty surrounding his future has led to interest from the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester United both keeping tabs on his situation at the Nou Camp.

However according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, who was speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, the Frenchman has told both clubs that he intends to remain at Barca this summer.

It is also claimed that Klopp was “convinced” that Liverpool would land the forward on loan, with an option to buy.

But the Reds were ultimately disappointed in their pursuit and have now bolstered their attacking ranks with the signing of Diogo Jota from Wolves.

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United, meanwhile, are looking to bring in an attacker before the window closes and were linked with a move for £100million-rated Dembele, who can play on either flank.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considered Dembele when it looked as though newly-appointed Barca boss Ronald Koeman was ready to sell the France star to raise funds.

But with Luis Suarez leaving the Nou Camp for Atletico Madrid, Barca are not prepared to let Dembele go, leaving United to look elsewhere.

United have still not given up hope of signing Jadon Sancho, their No.1 summer target, despite Borussia Dortmund’s insistence the right-winger is going nowhere this summer.

Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl reaffirmed the club’s position that the England international will not leaving this month.

He told Sport 1: “We agreed that we had to show a certain attitude. And €80m are simply not enough for such a player. We owed that to the club and the fans. I don’t want to give him up either.

“Without Jadon this team is worse.”