Jurgen Klopp warns Liverpool youngsters as teenager Jerome Sinclair prepares for Watford switch

German manager exasperated as 19-year-old forward with three appearances signals intention to leave Anfield

Jerome Sinclair in action (GETTY IMAGES)

Jurgen Klopp warned Liverpool’s young players not to put money before their development as it was revealed teenage striker Jerome Sinclair is set to leave Anfield this summer.

Sinclair, a 19-year-old with three first-team appearances to his name, has rejected terms on an extension on his contract, ahead of a potential move to Watford.

Two other youngsters could also leave; Jordan Rossiter and Carlos Teixeira are also in contract stand-offs, while the memories of Raheem Sterling’s departure last summer still linger at Anfield.

“I like Jerome, he is a real talent and if he wants to stay with us, no problem – absolutely no problem. If not, we cannot force it,” Klopp said ahead of tonight’s FA Cup replay against Exeter, where the manager will field a young side similar to the one that drew 2-2 in the first game.

“First of all you need young players who want to learn and if we can create a situation where they feel it is the right place to learn then everything is good. That is what we try for next season.

“As a club you cannot make young players happy, that is not possible. It is not the club’s first job. But what we try is to create a situation where younger players know it is not important to get the highest wages of your life in the first year of your career. It is more important to get the real education and that is what we want to try. For this you always need a lot of things.”

Asked about Sinclair’s potential move to Watford, Klopp answered: “I have nothing to say about this. Jerome is a very young player. He has skills, he is a very good shooter but physically it is not easy for him to survive in the central position in a Premier League game against 6ft 4in defenders.”