Jurgen Klopp reveals anger at Liverpool missing out on Ajax forward he ‘loves’ from time in Premier League

Jurgen Klopp has revealed his anger at missing out on former Premier League star Dusan Tadic when he made his move to Ajax.

Tadic spent four seasons in the Premier League with Southampton before he moved to current club Ajax. He was one of the Saints’ most influential players for much of that period.

Indeed, the forward contributed to 59 goals in 162 appearances for the Premier League side.

Southampton were a genuine force for much of the time Tadic was at the club. Indeed, they managed to finish in the top half of the league in three out of the four seasons he spent at St Mary’s.

The club’s best finish in that period was sixth, in the 2015/16 campaign. It is no coincidence that that season was also the one in which Tadic performed best.

The Serbian contributed to 15 goals in the league, and helped his side to a Europa League place for the following campaign.

However, only two years later, in the summer of 2018, he moved onto bigger and better things. Indeed, he made the move to Ajax, where he is still playing, and starring.

Tadic has put up some frankly remarkable numbers in his time with the Dutch giants. In 209 games he has scored 94 goals, as well as providing 98 assists.

His best return was in the season after his move, as he was directly involved in a whopping 61 goals in all competitions.

Clearly, he is a very talented player, and was in scintillating form during that period.

Klopp reveals Tadic miss

In the form Tadic showed during the period that he moved to Ajax, he could well have played for any of the world’s top sides.

Liverpool boss Klopp has revealed his anger at missing out on Tadic, as he was an admirer of the star.

“I love him as a player,” he said, quoted by Metro.

“I was very angry with myself when he went to Ajax, because I was also interested in him.”

Indeed, the Reds could have enjoyed Tadic’s talents, had they signed him. Given he was performing in the Premier League, and had a crazy season after his move, he might well have given Klopp’s side an injection of quality.

Tadic could have followed familiar path

If Tadic had gone to Anfield, he would have followed a path that many players have walked in recent times. Indeed, it has often been the case in the last few years for Southampton stars to be snagged by Liverpool.

Much of the time, those transfers have panned out fairly well, too.

Indeed, both Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane swapped St Mary’s for Anfield in recent years. Both of those men have now won the Premier League and the Champions League, among other honours.

Tadic could have been another star to add to the list of successful Liverpool transfers from Southampton, should Klopp have fought to snare him.