OPINION
Jurgen Klopp had barely a few minutes to bask in Liverpool’s opening-day demolition of West Ham before turning his attention back to the transfer window.
The Premier League version may have shut last Thursday but the European window remains open until the end of this month and the events of the next two weeks will be key to how the Reds line up for the 2018-19 season.
The Sun claim Klopp has fielded bids for both senior goalkeepers Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet, and must now decide which of them to offload before 31 August.
It is said that Turkish big hitters Besiktas are keen to sign Karius on a season-long loan, while Serie A title challengers Napoli are in hot pursuit of Mignolet.
One of the two will almost certainly leave before the transfer cut-off, but the big dilemma for Klopp is, which one?
Karius understudied £65million new signing Alisson against West Ham after ending last season as the number one.
But the German’s confidence has been decimated by his calamitous performance in the Champions League final and a spell away from his parent club playing regularly could be a major step in rebuilding his career.
Mignolet, 30, is five years older and more a part of the Liverpool woodwork but his status has gradually diminished to the point where he now appears to be third choice for the keeper slot.
Klopp has not shied away from big decisions and can be ruthless when he needs to be.
The goalkeeper puzzle is trickier than it appears as Mignolet is said to be a big earner and some clubs have been put off by his wage demands.
There is a sense the Belgium international is more likely to leave if a buyer can be found who are willing to match Liverpool’s valuation.
As for Karius, he is young enough and technically good enough to still make it at Liverpool if – and it’s a big if – he has the mentality to bounce back from his Kiev meltdown.
Over to you, Jurgen.