2 Sept 2016

Anfield MegaDeal: Liverpool tried to sign 'fantastic' €60m attacker on transfer deadline day

Much to the chagrin of Reds fans everywhere, Liverpool had a very quiet end to the transfer window (in terms of incomings), but new reports today suggest that Jurgen Klopp actually had his eye on least one last-gasp deal.

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola today:

* Porto rejected Everton's €40m offer for Brahimi on transfer deadline day.

* Liverpool were also interested, but baulked at the Porto's demand that the Reds pay Brahimi's €60m buyout clause.

Liverpool were linked with Brahimi in May, and at the time, the Liverpool Echo reported:

"Liverpool are set to make a £45m swoop for Porto's Yacine Brahimi".

The Mirror further claimed that Liverpool had 'spoken to Porto' about a potential deal. Some info about Brahimi:

* 26-year old left-winger, who can also play on the right. Current contract expires: 2019.

* Porto: 22 goals/20 assists in 86 apps (Goal every 276 mins. G/A every 144 mins).

* Apr 2015: Pep Guardiola's assessment: "On the right, on the left or in the middle, he [Brahimi] is fantastic. He is a great player".

* Dec 2014: Named the BBC's 'African Player of the Year'.

* May 2016: Scouting Report: "Failed to hit the heights of 2014-15. Flashes of magical skills...but a petulant attitude. Publicly rebuked by coach Jose Peseiro after angrily throwing his training jacket to the ground after being substituted. Many Porto fans question his attitude. If he ends up at Liverpool, Klopp will require all his famous motivational skills to get the best out of him".

Hmmm. Brahimi doesn't sound like a Klopp-type player at all, and if he's prone to petulance, then he'd probably find himself in the same boat as Mamadou Sakho.

On a related note, if this story is true, once again shows Klopp's stubbornness. Instead of trying to bring in a left-back and/or a defensive midfielder, he seemingly focused on signing yet another attacking player. With Mane heading to the African Cup of Nations in January, another winger is arguably needed. but it's not the club's first transfer priority.

Again, though, Liverpool can stuff the team with attacking midfielders, but if the team isn't defensively solid in midfield, it'll ultimately make little difference.


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