Ward considered this for several seconds and his expression showed he was calculating whether the concession cost Liverpool anything aningful.
"We can add language stating that if starts fall below fifteen in the first season, loan discussion initiates automatically at the player’s request," Ward said. "That’s acceptable to us."
Marco nodded. "I’ll want that specific language in the final contract, not just verbal agreent here."
"Of course," Ward said.
Klopp leaned forward again and addressed Demien directly while bypassing Marco deliberately.
"But you should know," Klopp said, and his eyes stayed on Demien’s face, "if you co to Liverpool and train the way I think you will, we won’t need that clause. You’ll be playing. I don’t sign players to sit them on the bench. That’s not how I work."
The contract discussion continued for another ten minutes with Marco pressing on specific clauses and Ward giving ground on so points while holding firm on others, and Demien mostly listened while occasionally glancing at Marco who gave subtle nods when points were won.
Ward looked at Demien after the contract discussion reached natural pause.
"You’ve been patient listening to us talk," Ward said. "What questions do you have?"
Demien pulled out his notepad with the prepared questions.
"First question," Demien said. "Where exactly do you see fitting tactically in your system?"
Klopp answered imdiately and his response was specific rather than vague.
"As an eight," Klopp said. "Left or right side depending on the opponent and match situation. Your profile suits both positions. Against teams that sit deep and defend in a low block, you play right side to provide creativity and chance creation. Against teams that press high and try to control possession, you play left side to help with progression through their press. Flexibility is valuable because it ans you’re useful in different ga states."
Demien nodded because the answer made tactical sense.
"What’s the realistic developnt pathway in year one?" Demien asked. "Not guaranteed minutes, but realistic expectation based on how you develop young players."
Ward and Klopp exchanged a glance and Klopp answered after the brief pause.
"Heavy involvent in dostic cups," Klopp said. "Carabao Cup, FA Cup—those are your competitions to make your own. Europa League when we qualify, which we will. Premier League minutes build gradually throughout the season. First half of the season you’re rotating into the team when fixture congestion requires it or when tactical matchups favor your profile. Second half of the season, if developnt goes well, you’re pushing for regular starts. By season two, you’re competing for a starting spot every week."
Demien processed this and the tiline was slower than he might want but at least it was honest about what to expect.
"Who am I competing with for the positions you ntioned?" Demien asked.
Ward answered this one and his tone was matter-of-fact.
"Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Alexis Mac Allister when we complete that signing, Dominik Szoboszlai if we complete that signing," Ward said. "You’d be fifth choice initially in terms of the pecking order, but you’d be competing to move up based on training performance and match contributions."
Fifth choice. Clear hierarchy. Demien appreciated the honesty but that was a lot of players ahead of him in the depth chart.
"What happens if I’m not getting minutes after six months?" Demien asked.
Klopp leaned back and his expression showed he understood why the question was being asked.
"Six months is too early to make judgnts about developnt," Klopp said. "Football takes ti, especially adjusting to a new league and new system. But if by month six you’re training well and still not seeing aningful pitch ti, we have a conversation. I have that conversation with every player who feels they should be playing more. My door is always open."
Final question. "What made you specifically want to sign ? Why and not another midfielder you could target?"
Klopp smiled and his expression showed this was the question he’d been waiting for.
"Your ntality," Klopp said without hesitation. "I’ve watched you at Atalanta all season when we’ve been scouting you. Bad match, good match, you never hide from the ball. You always show for it, always want to be involved. Against North Macedonia, sixty-seventh minute, you lost the ball to Elmas. I rember it specifically because my first thought was let’s see how he responds. Next action, you won it back. Competed hard, got your body in the right position, won the ball cleanly. No hiding, no letting your head drop. That’s ntality."
He paused and his eyes stayed on Demien’s face.
"Talent is one thing," Klopp continued. "Half the players in Europe have talent. ntality separates good players from great players. You have both. That’s why we want you."
The answer was genuine and specific rather than generic praise, and the fact that Klopp rembered the exact minute when Demien lost the ball and recovered it showed he’d watched closely rather than just highlights.
Ward asked if there were more questions and Demien shook his head.
Ward looked at Klopp and gave him the floor with a gesture, and Klopp leaned forward with his forearms on the table and spoke directly to Demien.
"I don’t do hard sell," Klopp started, and his tone was sincere without being manipulative. "I don’t promise things I can’t guarantee because that helps nobody. Football is unpredictable. Form changes, injuries happen, tactical needs shift. But I can tell you this with certainty: Liverpool is a special place. Anfield is a special stadium. When you score your first goal there and seventy thousand people are singing, you’ll understand what I an."
He paused and let that image sit.
"You’re nineteen years old," Klopp continued. "You have ti to develop. But you also have talent that needs the right environnt to grow properly. I’ve developed many young players in my career. Trent Alexander-Arnold was nineteen when he beca a regular starter for us. Joe Goz, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones—all ca through at young ages. I know how to bring young players through the right way."
Another pause and his eyes never left Demien’s face.
"Manchester United will offer you more money," Klopp said, and the direct acknowledgnt of United’s offer without asking Demien to confirm it was strategic. "Maybe they already have. That’s fine. Money is important, I’m not saying it isn’t. But football is about more than money. It’s about where you develop best as a player. Where you beco the player you can be. I believe that’s Liverpool."
The acknowledgnt showed confidence rather than defensiveness.
"You don’t have to answer now," Klopp said. "You shouldn’t answer now. You have another eting tomorrow. Take your ti and make the right decision for you. But know that we want you here. Not as a squad player who fills numbers. As the future of this midfield. There’s a big difference."
He sat back and the pitch was complete—emotional without being manipulative, personal without being presumptuous, honest about competition while confident about developnt.
Ward added briefly and his tone was professional without pressure.
"We’d like an answer by Monday if possible," Ward said. "We have other midfield targets we’re considering if this doesn’t work out. Not trying to pressure you, just being transparent about our tiline."
Marco nodded. "Understood. We’ll have an answer by Monday."
The eting wrapped up with handshakes around the table and Klopp stood to shake Demien’s hand one more ti while his grip was firm.
"Call directly if any questions co up before you make your decision," Klopp said, and he pulled a business card from his jacket pocket and handed it to Demien. "That’s my personal number. Don’t hesitate."
Ward walked them to the door and thanked them for coming, and the door closed behind them at three fifty-five.
----
They rode the elevator down in silence and walked to the car parked two blocks away while Marco let Demien process without imdiate debrief.
Once they were in the car and moving through London traffic, Marco spoke.
"What did you think?"
Demien exhaled properly for the first ti since entering the conference room.
"Klopp is everything people say he is," Demien said. "The pitch was strong. Tactical fit makes sense. But they’re saying year two before I’m really competing for starts."
"Correct," Marco said. "They were honest about the tiline. That’s actually a good sign. Clubs that promise imdiate starts to nineteen-year-olds are lying. Liverpool told you the truth even though it’s not what you wanted to hear."
Marco leaned back and his expression was thoughtful.
"Ward didn’t flinch when I pressed on the playing ti clauses," Marco said. "That ans they expected that pressure. They ca prepared to give ground there because they knew that would be your primary concern. The loan discussion language costs them nothing—if you’re playing well, the clause never activates."
The car moved through traffic and Demien looked out the window while his mind processed everything he’d heard.
"So what do I do with this information?" he asked.
"Nothing tonight," Marco said. "Sleep on it. Tomorrow you hear United’s pitch. Then Saturday we sit down and compare everything side by side. Don’t try to decide before you’ve heard both presentations."
The car arrived at Demien’s hotel and Marco said he’d call tomorrow morning before the United eting at eleven AM.
"Sa process, different club," Marco said. "You did well in there. Stayed professional, asked good questions, didn’t give anything away."
Demien thanked him and got out while the car pulled away.
6:30 PM — Evening
Demien changed out of the suit into casual clothes and ordered room service dinner—pasta with grilled chicken—and he ate while his mind replayed the eting.
Klopp’s intensity. Ward’s professionalism. The honest tiline about year two. The tactical video showing exactly where he’d fit. Fifth choice in the pecking order with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai coming in.
His phone sat on the nightstand and he picked it up and typed a text to Sophia.
Liverpool eting done. Klopp is exactly what everyone says. Honest about tiline - year two before regular starts. Nothing decided.
Her response ca within a minute: How do you feel about it?
He typed back: Impressed. But want to hear United tomorrow before comparing.
Smart. Sleep on it. Love you.
Love you too.
He set the phone down and opened his laptop at eight PM to watch Manchester United tactical videos for an hour while studying Ten Hag’s system and where the eights operated, and the preparation was necessary so tomorrow’s eting wouldn’t catch him unprepared.
Ten PM arrived and he set his alarm for eight AM because tomorrow’s eting was earlier—eleven AM instead of two PM—and the venue was United’s London office rather than a hotel.
He finally fell asleep around eleven while his mind was still processing—two different red shirts, two different stadiums, two different futures that felt equally possible and equally real.
Tomorrow he’d hear the second pitch.
Then he’d have to choose which future beca his.
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