Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hinted that he would like the club to consider building a new academy to help the process of bringing youngsters through.
The German tactician put pen-to-paper on a new six-year deal this week, and is naturally looking at creating a legacy with the Reds.
As well as results on the pitch, he wants progress off it and that comes in the form of bringing the club’s training ground together with the academy.
Currently, there is a short journey between Melwood and Kirkby, and Klopp, similarly to Brendan Rodgers before him, wants that to be addressed and to have the academy brought together with the club’s main training base.
“We need to develop the club, a lot of things. We’re building a new stand, we think about building a new Academy or bringing Academy and Melwood together, and things like this, it’s much longer term than my contract,” he said, as noted by The Liverpool Echo.
“It’s important we do the right things so this wonderful club can be successful both in these six years but later on too. We are very responsible for the club, the people around.”
Despite bringing in the likes of Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Loris Karius, Klopp will continue to place importance on the club’s ability to bring through young players to eventually feature in the senior side.
In turn, this is certainly more than just a false hope or suggestion, as he will be desperate to put the club in a stronger position all round during his time on Merseyside.
The process has already begun with the results seen last season, but as he prepares for his first full campaign in charge of Liverpool, Klopp will have signed his new deal knowing that there is a desire on both sides to see the club develop both on and off the pitch.
While it comes with issues, the idea of having both bases together seems logical and the right thing to do, and it will be down to the club to formulate a plan to make it happen.