It was widely reported when Klopp ended his extended break from the game to take charge at Anfield that there was a verbal accord in place prohibiting him from trying to tempt players away from Dortmund.

But with the January transfer window looming Klopp set the record straight and triggered anxiety in his former employer’s boardroom by disclosing: “There is no agreement with Borussia Dortmund. I heard as well that there was one – these sort of things are always written at the time but, no it’s not true.”

Klopp left behind an array of rich talent, big performers like Mats Hummels, Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Sven Bender and Ilkay Gundogan – players who under Klopp were crowned Bundesliga champions and reached the Champions League final.