Liverpool hero John Barnes is happy that his old club have moved for Joel Matip, but believes that the degree to which the Reds’ owners will back Jurgen Klopp in the transfer market will only become clear this summer.

The Merseysiders officially agreed a pre-contract deal with the Cameroon international earlier this week, allowing the centre-back to leave Schalke at the end of the season to relocate to Anfield.

With Matip a player to have made his name in the Bundesliga – where Klopp managed Dortmund and Mainz - it’s been widely suggested that his arrival is the first sign that the Kop chief will be backed by Liverpool’s owners, but TitanBet brand ambassador Barnes told FootballFanCast that we cannot be sure of the extent of their support of their man until marquee buys are chased this summer:

“Backing him [Klopp] is when he actually says ‘I want to buy a player for £30m’ and the club gives him the £30m.” he said.

“This [the Matip signing] for me is a bonus, he’s a quality player on a free transfer, but of course come the summer I doubt very much any more will be coming in for free, so that’s when we’ll see the backing he gets from the club.”

However, Barnes revealed that he is happy about Matip’s arrival.

When asked if he’s excited by the idea of seeing the 24-year-old in the red shirt, he said: “Yes I am. I’ve watched Schalke over the years and he’s a good defender. He’s strong and good in the air. He’ll be a great acquisition coming in on a free transfer.”

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