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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Dominic Solanke was such an unknown quantity this summer that he struggled to even find DVDs of the young striker in action.

Klopp says he's indebted to the Reds' recruitment staff for alerting him to the availability of the talented England Under-20s striker.

Solanke was out of contract at Chelsea and when he was allowed to speak to rival clubs in late May it soon became clear that Liverpool was his destination of choice.

Klopp started doing his homework and saw enough to believe that the 19-year-old frontman would be a welcome acquisition.

“The only thing I can say is the first time I heard that Dominic wants to come, I was really happy about that,” Klopp said.

“But it was difficult to find footage about him. It was a long time since he played so it was hard.

“The only thing we could get was a little bit of him playing in Holland (on loan for Vitesse Arnhem) and a bit of under-20s or under-19s. That’s not the best footage.

“Everyone in England knew him but I had no idea about him. I started to learn more and more and I trust the guys around us, the scouts, so I said: 'Let’s do it.'

“I've seen a lot of skilled boys in my life and he looks like a nice project.

“Everything is really good, really clear. He’s extremely football smart and focused. You see the movement.

“He has to improve in a lot of ways but he's a good boy.”

Solanke scored his first goal for the club in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in Hong Kong.

His transfer fee will be set by a tribunal but if Liverpool only have to pay a rumoured £3million then it will be an exceptional piece of business.

“I don’t want to say that’s the answer because we have to see,” Klopp said.

“You know how difficult it is to get boys of this age. Usually you can't even ask for them and you have to just have your own.

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“They need to be lucky, to be at the right club, because if they are in the wrong club they are still really good, but nobody will be aware of it.

“It's a little bit too much coincidence that things like this happen but it should be possible always.”

With Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi for company, it's difficult to see Solanke forcing his way into Klopp's first choice line up this season.

But Klopp insists he will always pick on performances rather than reputation.

“I never thought what’s your name? How old are you? Never in my life,” he said.

“It’s about performing, doing the right thing in the right moment.

“If they are patient then the future is bright. If they are not patient it can be really hard.

“We will help them and lead them through the jungle. I’m really confident we can do it.”

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Solanke was lured to Anfield by the promise that there's a pathway for youngsters at Liverpool which simply doesn't exist at Chelsea.

The teenager saw the chances given to the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn last term as Klopp showed his willingness to put his faith in youth.

"Are we really able to bring in kids? We play them in the League Cup and all of England tells us we don’t respect the cups," Klopp said.

"What? They won against Leeds but unfortunately lost against Wolves. That’s the problem.

"Each game is like a final and I try something and everyone is like: 'Are you crazy?'

"Yes, the path should be clear but the boys need to be ready for this."