Besart Berisha: remember him? No, neither do I, but the ex-Burnley benchwarmer has claimed this week that Liverpool were once interested in signing him.
Speaking to reporters this week, Berisha - who now plays for Melbourne Victory - insisted:
"All the Premier League clubs looked at me, but Burnley signed me quick. My manager told me something about Manchester United and Liverpool were also interested."
Berisha signed for Burnley in 2007, so if his claims are true, then Liverpool's interest arose during Rafa Benitez's reign.
Berisha failed to make a single appearance for Burnley in his two years at the club, and ended up at Arminia Bielefeld (2 goals in 28 apps), before shipping out to Australia, where he finally found his level (81 goals in 130 games).
It's hard to see why Rafa was interested in Berisha. Prior to the Burnley transfer, the one-time Albania international plied his trade in the lower levels of the Danish league, and his stats were poor.
That said, after a recent pre-season friendly, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone singled Berisha out for praise, noting that he 'really liked' his style of play.
Ultimately, though, it looks like Liverpool dodged a bullet here. Berisha probably would've been another Antonio Voronin, or, worse, another Erik Meijer.
* Dec 2015: Hailed as 'excellent' by Victory head coach Kevin Muscat
Speaking to reporters this week, Berisha - who now plays for Melbourne Victory - insisted:
"All the Premier League clubs looked at me, but Burnley signed me quick. My manager told me something about Manchester United and Liverpool were also interested."
Berisha signed for Burnley in 2007, so if his claims are true, then Liverpool's interest arose during Rafa Benitez's reign.
Berisha failed to make a single appearance for Burnley in his two years at the club, and ended up at Arminia Bielefeld (2 goals in 28 apps), before shipping out to Australia, where he finally found his level (81 goals in 130 games).
It's hard to see why Rafa was interested in Berisha. Prior to the Burnley transfer, the one-time Albania international plied his trade in the lower levels of the Danish league, and his stats were poor.
That said, after a recent pre-season friendly, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone singled Berisha out for praise, noting that he 'really liked' his style of play.
Ultimately, though, it looks like Liverpool dodged a bullet here. Berisha probably would've been another Antonio Voronin, or, worse, another Erik Meijer.
* Dec 2015: Hailed as 'excellent' by Victory head coach Kevin Muscat
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