Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he is charge of the transfer policy at Anfield after sacked predecessor Brendan Rodgers revealed players were forced upon him.
Last weekend, Rogers gave an interview in which he said Mario Balotelli, now on loan at AC Milan after a poor debut season at Liverpool, was an example of a signing over whom he had no control.
Liverpool’s transfer committee, comprising the manager, representatives of the scouting department and senior management staff, has been widely criticised after several poor signings.
But Klopp said he had the last word on signings, although he accepted there were limits to his authority.
“If I say, for example, we take Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is 35, and we would have to pay £100 million (Dh520m) then maybe I should ask before I sign him,” Klopp said.
“But it is as it is when I said on the first day I came here; it is like I used to work.
“Sometimes my staff and myself have an idea with a player we know or heard about and we collect some information about this.
“If I don’t want the player to come here he will not come and if the player I want does not fit our budget then he will not come too. That is absolutely normal.”
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Klopp has, however, shown faith in his existing squad by giving goalkeeper Simon Mignolet a new long-term contract.
The Belgium international has come under fire for some high-profile mistakes this season, but Klopp said he has full confidence in Mignolet.
“We would not have offered him a contract if we had the same thinking (as his critics) -- a lot of people who speak about this situation always talk about new goalkeepers,” Klopp said.
“But when I came here I heard nothing negative about Simon with all the people I spoke to. There was nothing to criticise.
“There have been a lot of games since I have been here and he has been involved in one or the other goal we have conceded — as is normal with goalkeepers — but we thought about the package and Simon Mignolet is perfect.
“He is a smart guy, young enough to develop in the things he has to develop and he gives the whole team a good feeling when he is in the starting line-up.
“The result was we were sure we wanted to work with him for the next few years. We are satisfied with this position.”
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
