Klopp, who is closing in on the signing of Roma winger Mohamed Salah, told kicker that Liverpool "could have used a new player, for instance an attacking winger," in the winter, but the right man was not available.

After beating Manchester City on New Year's Eve, Liverpool were second in the Premier League but then suffered a six-week spell without a league win.

For that run they were without Sadio Mane, who was on African Nations Cup duty, and the injured Philippe Coutinho, robbing them of creative impetus.

Klopp said: "We did not have a squad able to avert this at that time.

"We could have certainly used a new player, for instance an attacking winger. And we tried in the winter, but the right one was either not available for us or just not there."

Liverpool secured fourth place and a spot in the Champions League playoffs on the final day of the season, and Klopp said: "It's easy to say what the people measure me against -- titles and trophies some day and, of course, against subjective successes like Champions League participation.

"I was indeed made aware last summer that you won't get a badge for a positive transfer balance."

In addition to a potential move for Salah, sources have told ESPN FC that Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has informed Liverpool he wants to join them.