Liverpool had the chance to sign Chelsea-bound Christopher Nkunku last summer, but decided against the move.
Nkunku, who currently plays for RB Leipzig, has emerged as one of Europe's top attacking talents.
Nkunku is set to join Chelsea in the summer
He is now on his way to Chelsea next summer as one of their attacking additions amongst their influx of new signings.
The 25-year-old could have made the switch to Anfield instead, but a decision was made at Liverpool to not sign the forward.
According to The Telegraph, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders 'declined' the opportunity to bring him to the club.
He could have competed with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz for a start up top thanks to his ability to play across the frontline.
Nkunku would also have been Liverpool's long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino, whose contract runs out at the end of the season.
However, it is now too late for them to make a move, with the Leipzig star preparing for a switch to west London in the summer.
Klopp made the decision to not sign Nkunku last year
Whilst they may have missed out on a top attacking talent, Liverpool have been able to acquire one themselves.
Cody Gakpo has sealed his move to the Reds from PSV Eindhoven after his long-standing links with Manchester United.
Despite such a strong addition, Klopp has warned fans not to expect any further signings in the window.
He told reporters: "I am now seven years and a few months here and every transfer window is pretty much the same, we talk about these things as though money wouldn't play a role. Like who cares? It is never like this that you could just spend money.
"I don't want to disappoint anybody but we signed an outstanding player like Cody Gakpo and the next thing you can read is, "who next?" It is like we didn't have a team, honestly! We cannot play like monopoly. We never did and I don't understand it.
"Of course we cannot just spend and never could, surprisingly. We always sorted our situations and it is a big part of my philosophy, really working full of faith and trust with the players we have and not constantly questioning them by telling them we need another player for that position or that position.
However, Gakpo has now arrived at the Reds
"With Cody it is obvious not only because we have that void now, the quality he has, the timing is perfect and if we wait until the summer he will be more expensive or someone else would have picked him.
"There is a lot of potential, it makes absolute sense and the games we will have in the next years the games will not get less we will have more games and all these kinds of things.
"It is clear that you need real quality in all positions and probably two teams on the same level that you can rotate and that is what we try to prepare obviously. That is somebody is now surprised when I say we will not now start splashing the cash – that should be really clear.
"Again, if there is something we can do – and that means the right player and financial situation – we will do it, and if not, then not."
No comments:
Post a Comment