Liverpool transfer news: Jurgen Klopp refused to sign striker 'because of goal celebration'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp apparently once decided against signing a player because of his goal celebrations. The 48-year-old boss was close to recruiting the footballer during his time in charge of Borussia Dortmund, but opted against the move after watching the striker in the flesh.

Dortmund's marketing director, Carsten Cramer, admitted Klopp was unimpressed by the player's behaviour and consequently, the proposed transfer collapsed. "There is a story Jurgen told me about a striker he was interested in," Cramer revealed to The Mirror.

"He watched him in several videos and said: 'This is a striker I want to sign.' Then he saw him playing and he scored a goal. He was watching how he was celebrating his goal and said: 'This is not a guy for Dortmund. He is celebrating for himself and not the club.'

"All the players know the club is the most important thing. I'm very sure that the brand philosophy was important when we hired someone like Jurgen Klopp."

Meanwhile, Cramer also confirmed Klopp tried to sign Liverpool striker Christian Benteke when he was in charge of the German club. The Belgium international has become a peripheral figure at Anfield since Klopp took charge, but Cramer has claimed he is a long-time fan of the former Aston Villa star's talents.

"When Jurgen was in Dortmund, we were thinking about signing him," he said of Klopp, who was appointed Liverpool manager in October 2015.

"But he was so expensive, so we couldn't realise it. We were in negotiations but the transfer fee was above £20m, which was not possible for us. I know Jurgen's opinion and was kind of convinced about him. Seeing him playing now for Liverpool... well, most of the time he's not playing."