Jurgen Klopp has revealed Liverpool were interested in signing Jadon Sancho but were frustrated due to top Premier League clubs being unwilling to do business with each other.

Liverpool face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night and it was a discussion about the state of German football – and the reason so many Bundesliga clubs are keen on signing young English players – that led Klopp to name-check Sancho.

The 18-year-old left Manchester City in August 2017 and has become one of the hottest talents in Europe since Borussia Dortmund signed him for £8million; if the Germans ever look to sell Sancho, he will almost certainly cost more than £100million.

Jurgen Klopp has revealed Liverpool were interested in signing Jadon Sancho in 2017

Klopp believes his former club completed some shrewd business when they landed Sancho, but feels they had an easier task to get him because the Premier League’s top six clubs would rarely – if ever – do business that would strengthen a rival.

‘Buying English players is a smart idea because we would never have a chance to get Sancho,’ said Klopp. ‘We are not blind – we saw him, we liked him and then we think “Can we get him?” No. Because English clubs don’t sell to other English clubs.

‘I don’t know exactly what the reason is for that but they don’t do it. Now they can go to Germany which is a wonderful league. I don’t see German football in a bad situation.’ 

They were left frustrated as Man City were unwilling to do business with Premier League rivals

For all that Bayern Munich have had a difficult season, Klopp is under no illusion about the task Liverpool face to try and reach the quarter-finals. Bayern have been to the semi-finals in six of the past seven season and appeared in the last in every season since 2012.

‘The game is in a situation where the club (opponent) is not overly happy then it makes you more focused,’ said Klopp, who is without the suspended Virgil van Dijk and is fretting about the fitness of Roberto Firmino.

‘It gives you really 100 per cent concentration on that game, nobody is flying brain wise in Bayern at the moment because they chase the league in the Bundesliga and they want to be as successful as possible and want to be in the cup and all that, and everything is possible for them.

‘So we have to be aware of that. That’s what we are. We don’t underestimate ourselves, we don’t think we are not good enough.

‘We are a proper competitive side that’s really cool, and in our stadium with our people we are a proper force. Emotion is very positive so let’s show it.’

Benjamin Davis faces jail in Singapore after the Fulham youngster deafulted on National Service.

All men in Singapore over the age of 18 must complete two years of National Service unless they are handed an exemption, or risk three years in jail.

Davis, who became the first Singaporean to sign a professional deal at a Premier League club when he penned a two-year contract at Fulham in July, was not granted permission to miss National Service. 

Fulham youngster Bejmain Davis faces jail in Singapore after missing National Service

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence declared: ‘Mr Benjamin Davis is a national service defaulter.

‘He failed to report for national service as required. He is also staying overseas without a valid Exit Permit.’

Exemptions are usually only handed to Olympians, with regular sportsmen not considered for them. 

A Football Association of Singapore spokesperson said: ‘The FAS is extremely disappointed with Mr Benjamin Davis’ default of his NS obligations. It is thoroughly irresponsible on the part of Mr Davis, and also reneges on his (and his father’s) assurance to the FAS that Mr Davis would discharge his NS commitments and play for the Singapore national team.

‘Mr Davis had lived in Singapore for many years, and has benefited from the resources used to educate and train him as a footballer over this period of time. He was invited to play for the Singapore national team, and he agreed.

‘The FAS had supported Benjamin Davis’ application to defer NS on this basis.

‘While the matter will now be dealt with by Mindef, the FAS wishes to state categorically that we do not condone such conduct nor did it ever arise in our discussions with Mr Davis that he would seek to avoid his liability.’