Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed a desire to see as many as 10 home-grown stars progress from the academy to the first-team under his watch. That way, he wouldn't have to turn to the transfer market, with the associated gossip that he clearly finds so frustrating.
"Of course it's cool if we have 10 players from the Academy and we make no signing in the transfer window," Klopp told the Liverpool Echo as he spoke at length about the club's dedication to their youngsters - not only for the benefit of the club itself, but for preparing the players for their own futureas well.
"I would love to be part of the press conference when I say this! 'No signings this year'. Then it would be: 'But we need this, this, this and this'. I'd say: 'But we have already' and nobody would believe me," he added.
"Once a year I have to listen to all the questions: 'Is he really in a position to play in the first team?' It makes it easier but it's only a thing we have to do. It's kind of an agreement."
Klopp has given chances to a number of Liverpool youngsters since he took over the club a little over a year ago. It has been a while since anyone from the academy, pre-dating the German's time on Merseyside, has established themselves as a first-team regular, though.
"These boys start training pretty early in their lives at Kirkby. We have to deliver the best education on the pitch and next to the pitch that we can. They have to deliver the perfect attitude. They are already skilled," Klopp continued.
"All they do - except when they are in school - is invest in football. At the end it's our responsibility that they come through a lot more than in the last few years."
Among the current crop of youngsters big things are expected of Ovie Ejaria, who is in line to play in the EFL Cup this week after making his debut in the last round, and Ben Woodburn, the 17-year-old who seriously impressed during pre-season.
"I think there's a lot to say about a few of our young players," Klopp said.
"The problem is that it's not for the public because they are still young and they are really in a good way. That is why they are completely involved in the training sessions and everything we are doing.
"We are really happy about the situation. One of the reasons why it is so easy for them to use the situation of training with world-class players and improving every day is because they don't have to think about anything else. We try to keep this situation as long as possible."
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