Liverpool ‘already turned down’ transfer of $32m forward who could have been new Xherdan Shaqiri
Liverpool have reportedly rejected the chance to sign a $32m forward also being linked with Spurs and Manchester United. Jürgen Klopp could have made use of him.
Liverpool will face Brighton twice this month if they progress past Wolves in their FA Cup replay, with the south coast side having become something of a perfect model for ‘smaller’ clubs trying to establish themselves in the Premier League.
Their recruitment and sales have been near-immaculate, leading them into the top half of the top flight, and even the loss of Graham Potter to Chelsea has barely impacted their position in the table.
In the recent past, they have sold Marc Cucurella for $75m (£62m/€70m) and Benjamin White for $61m (£50m/€57m). Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister could be next to make them a fortune.
Perhaps the one that is the exception to the rule, though, is Leandro Trossard. The 28-year-old Belgian is out of contract at the end of the campaign as it stands (though there is an option for Brighton to trigger — more on that shortly) and has enjoyed a brilliant season so far.
Already, he has netted seven goals and laid on two assists in the Premier League alone this season (including a hat-trick at Anfield), while he also played for his nation at the World Cup. And, according to the Sussex Express, he has no intention of remaining at Brighton beyond his current deal.
In fact, CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs suggested on the Last Word On Spurs podcast that Liverpool is among the clubs that his agent has offered his services to, as well as Manchester United, Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle.
The Reds, though, supposedly turned down those advances and had no interest in the forward, valued at $32m (£26m/€30m) by Transfermarkt, with Spurs now favorites to sign the player instead.
Brighton, for their part, has dismissed suggestions that Tottenham could be his destination this month. Chasing a European place under Roberto De Zerbi, it is probably more beneficial for them to keep him for an additional six months at least.
And according to Sky Sports, Brighton intend to activate a 12-month extension to Trossard’s contract that will see him tied down until the summer of 2024, by which time he will be 29.
For the right fee, though, he would still be attainable and appears willing to take the next step in his career. And given that Liverpool lost back-up options in Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino last summer without replacing them, it could have made sense.
Capable of playing a variety of attacking positions and scoring goals, and with Premier League experience, Trossard could have been a piece of the attacking jigsaw for Liverpool: in his prime, and a good option behind those who are first choice.
Additionally, with much money needing to be spent on their midfield in the summer and with younger options like Ben Doak perhaps not quite ready to regularly join the attacking roster for Jürgen Klopp, a medium-term addition like Trossard might have added up in the same way a Minamino or Xherdan Shaqiri has added depth successfully in the past.
Instead, it seems that Trossard will head elsewhere, perhaps not before aiming to inflict more damage on the Reds in January if he recovers from a calf injury before next weekend.
