https://theathletic.com/1563093/202...-transfers/?amp#click=https://t.co/AKmqnSDSHM
Summary stolen from Reddit:
a-rebel-dyed-shy 156 points 4 hours ago[https://www]
I'll try give a shortened version of the players mentioned in the article.
Bale: In 05/06, scouts went to watch David McGoldrick. Scouts raved about Bale instead. LFC's Darren Potter was on loan at Southampton so LFC proposed a swap deal. Southampton said cash plus Potter - "the response was basically 'Cheeky bastards!'"
Cristiano Ronaldo: 2003, agents were flaunting him everywhere, LFC were told by one that he'd be £4mil payable over 4 years, £1mil a year. Phil Thompson said he'd go ask Gerard Houllier about it, Gerard said he'd ask Rick Parry about it. Before they got back to him, he'd signed for Man Utd for £12.2mil.
Aguero: Must have been in summer 2006, Independiente asked for £16mil. Pretty much was too much of the budget and staff thought he wouldn't be ready to add to the first team immediately.
Shearer: Summer 2003, Houllier thought we could actually get him, Thommo knew he was angling for a better contract. We asked Newcastle to let us know if he didn't sign a new contract, within 24 hours he'd agreed new terms.
Dani Alves: Summer 06, was a done deal for £8mil. Until the board told Rafa they couldn't afford both Alves and Kuyt, he had to pick one. Rafa went with Kuyt.
Expanding on Benitez's time, they mention Simao Sabrosa, Malouda, Vidic, James McCarthy and Aaron Ramsey as ones that got away due to dilly-dallying or not enough funds.
Terry: last day of 02-03 season, Houllier has a word with Terry, gets his number to look to make a move. Roman takes over Chelsea and Terry stays. Liverpool miss out on Damien Duff too due to Chelsea's spending power, release clause was £17mil, we could only offer £12mil says Parry.
Cantona, Sheringham and Schmeichel: Cantona was recommended to Souness by Platini in November 91. Souness didn't want a trouble maker. Chief scout Ron Yeats was told about Schmeichel who would pay his own travel if granted a trial. Souness was trying to get rid of Grobbelaar and didn't want a rookie keeper. Roy Evans was blocked from signing Sheringham by the board who thought he was too old.
Bowyer: 2002, £9mil fee agreed. Player demands were too high and he kept dragging his feet, so we pulled the plug.
Heinze: was told he could join a new club if they paid £6.8mil and "he had his heart set on Anfield", Benitez thought it was a no brainer. Fergie found out, raged at the thought of him going to a rival, denied him. Case was taken to tribunal which Man Utd somehow won, LFC wanted to keep fighting but Heinze thought "Fuck this, I'll go to Madrid" so he did.
Barry: Summer 2008, Martin O'Neill turned it into a war, nothing happened. Next year when Alonso left, went back in for him, deal was done but Barry turned his phone off. Man City offered him more money and he went there instead.
The Rodgers Years
LFC found they didn't have the financial might or pulling power to get deals over the line.
Mkhitaryan and Willian in Summer 2013 went elsewhere, triggered Diego Costa release clause too but he just used it to sign a new contract at Atletico. Tried to sign Shay Given to backup Mignolet but Villa didn't want to let him go, Shay was upset.
January 2014 - missed out on Salah to Chelsea, focused attention on Konoplyanka. Deal was agreed, medical and terms done. Ayre was there trying to get Dnipro's president to sign it off and he flat out refused. Dnipro president described as a nightmare to deal with.
Summer 2014 - aka The Search for the Suarez replacement. Approached Sanchez, he went to Arsenal cause his wife wanted London over Liverpool. Triggered Loic Remy's release clause, agreed terms, promised number 7 shirt. He even flew to Boston to join the pre-season tour. Scans showed heart condition, LFC deemed it too big a risk. He went to Chelsea. Bony next on list - wages and asking price too big (100k and £19mil). Enquiries made for Falcao, Cavani, Benzema. Had a straight choice between Balotelli and Eto'o, went with Balo.
Rodgers was frustrated at not getting Dempsey, Williams and Bertrand. Also annoyed LFC failed to meet MK Dons demands for Dele Alli.
The Klopp Years
January 2016 - Alex Teixeira wanted, LFC offers £24.6mil. Ayre flies out to Shakhtar's training camp in Florida. They demand £40mil. Klopp decides he's not worth that, pulls plug.
Summer 2016 - Gotze wanted to keep his options open til after the Euro's so we pull out, an £11mil offer for Pulisic is rejected straight away.
January 2017 - Klopp talked with Draxler but he chose PSG. Julian Brandt was concerned he wouldn't be a starter.
Summer 2017 - Ayre is out and Edwards leads transfer deals. Interested in Lemar, bids of £55mil and £64mil rejected. Medical staff sent to Paris in case a deal is reached but with Arsenal joining the race, Monaco set asking price at £90mil. We say no.
Fekir: Summer 2018. £53mil deal agreed, terms agreed, all the media done. Late issue with knee, LFC seek second opinion, Klopp, Edwards and Gordon decide it's too much a gamble and pull the plug.
Hope that all makes sense, can give more detail on specifics if desired!
Summary stolen from Reddit:
a-rebel-dyed-shy 156 points 4 hours ago[https://www]
I'll try give a shortened version of the players mentioned in the article.
Bale: In 05/06, scouts went to watch David McGoldrick. Scouts raved about Bale instead. LFC's Darren Potter was on loan at Southampton so LFC proposed a swap deal. Southampton said cash plus Potter - "the response was basically 'Cheeky bastards!'"
Cristiano Ronaldo: 2003, agents were flaunting him everywhere, LFC were told by one that he'd be £4mil payable over 4 years, £1mil a year. Phil Thompson said he'd go ask Gerard Houllier about it, Gerard said he'd ask Rick Parry about it. Before they got back to him, he'd signed for Man Utd for £12.2mil.
Aguero: Must have been in summer 2006, Independiente asked for £16mil. Pretty much was too much of the budget and staff thought he wouldn't be ready to add to the first team immediately.
Shearer: Summer 2003, Houllier thought we could actually get him, Thommo knew he was angling for a better contract. We asked Newcastle to let us know if he didn't sign a new contract, within 24 hours he'd agreed new terms.
Dani Alves: Summer 06, was a done deal for £8mil. Until the board told Rafa they couldn't afford both Alves and Kuyt, he had to pick one. Rafa went with Kuyt.
Expanding on Benitez's time, they mention Simao Sabrosa, Malouda, Vidic, James McCarthy and Aaron Ramsey as ones that got away due to dilly-dallying or not enough funds.
Terry: last day of 02-03 season, Houllier has a word with Terry, gets his number to look to make a move. Roman takes over Chelsea and Terry stays. Liverpool miss out on Damien Duff too due to Chelsea's spending power, release clause was £17mil, we could only offer £12mil says Parry.
Cantona, Sheringham and Schmeichel: Cantona was recommended to Souness by Platini in November 91. Souness didn't want a trouble maker. Chief scout Ron Yeats was told about Schmeichel who would pay his own travel if granted a trial. Souness was trying to get rid of Grobbelaar and didn't want a rookie keeper. Roy Evans was blocked from signing Sheringham by the board who thought he was too old.
Bowyer: 2002, £9mil fee agreed. Player demands were too high and he kept dragging his feet, so we pulled the plug.
Heinze: was told he could join a new club if they paid £6.8mil and "he had his heart set on Anfield", Benitez thought it was a no brainer. Fergie found out, raged at the thought of him going to a rival, denied him. Case was taken to tribunal which Man Utd somehow won, LFC wanted to keep fighting but Heinze thought "Fuck this, I'll go to Madrid" so he did.
Barry: Summer 2008, Martin O'Neill turned it into a war, nothing happened. Next year when Alonso left, went back in for him, deal was done but Barry turned his phone off. Man City offered him more money and he went there instead.
The Rodgers Years
LFC found they didn't have the financial might or pulling power to get deals over the line.
Mkhitaryan and Willian in Summer 2013 went elsewhere, triggered Diego Costa release clause too but he just used it to sign a new contract at Atletico. Tried to sign Shay Given to backup Mignolet but Villa didn't want to let him go, Shay was upset.
January 2014 - missed out on Salah to Chelsea, focused attention on Konoplyanka. Deal was agreed, medical and terms done. Ayre was there trying to get Dnipro's president to sign it off and he flat out refused. Dnipro president described as a nightmare to deal with.
Summer 2014 - aka The Search for the Suarez replacement. Approached Sanchez, he went to Arsenal cause his wife wanted London over Liverpool. Triggered Loic Remy's release clause, agreed terms, promised number 7 shirt. He even flew to Boston to join the pre-season tour. Scans showed heart condition, LFC deemed it too big a risk. He went to Chelsea. Bony next on list - wages and asking price too big (100k and £19mil). Enquiries made for Falcao, Cavani, Benzema. Had a straight choice between Balotelli and Eto'o, went with Balo.
Rodgers was frustrated at not getting Dempsey, Williams and Bertrand. Also annoyed LFC failed to meet MK Dons demands for Dele Alli.
The Klopp Years
January 2016 - Alex Teixeira wanted, LFC offers £24.6mil. Ayre flies out to Shakhtar's training camp in Florida. They demand £40mil. Klopp decides he's not worth that, pulls plug.
Summer 2016 - Gotze wanted to keep his options open til after the Euro's so we pull out, an £11mil offer for Pulisic is rejected straight away.
January 2017 - Klopp talked with Draxler but he chose PSG. Julian Brandt was concerned he wouldn't be a starter.
Summer 2017 - Ayre is out and Edwards leads transfer deals. Interested in Lemar, bids of £55mil and £64mil rejected. Medical staff sent to Paris in case a deal is reached but with Arsenal joining the race, Monaco set asking price at £90mil. We say no.
Fekir: Summer 2018. £53mil deal agreed, terms agreed, all the media done. Late issue with knee, LFC seek second opinion, Klopp, Edwards and Gordon decide it's too much a gamble and pull the plug.
Hope that all makes sense, can give more detail on specifics if desired!
