Rush The Kop
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5 most embarrassing Liverpool transfer debacles of all time

By David Gate

REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - DECEMBER 07: Nabil Fekir of Olympique Lyon reacts during the UEFA Europa League group E match between Atalanta and Olympique Lyon at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on December 7, 2017 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - DECEMBER 07: Nabil Fekir of Olympique Lyon reacts during the UEFA Europa League group E match between Atalanta and Olympique Lyon at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on December 7, 2017 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) /
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Dele Alli Liverpool transfer
Liverpool Transfer debacle: Dele Alli of MK Dons looks to the ball with Sam Morsy of Chesterfield during the FA Cup Second Round match between MK Dons and Chesterfield at Stadium mk on December 6, 2014 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images) /

No.4: Dele Alli

There has never been a player Liverpool have scouted more than Dele Alli. They watched him for 18 months; filling out report after report of his talent and potential. While he was at MK Dons he was one of the most sought after young players in the country.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs were all hoping to lure Alli to the Premier League but Liverpool has a huge advantage; he was a Red. The young Dele Alli wanted to play for Liverpool, he wanted to be the natural successor to Steven Gerrard.

The club’s long-term commitment to scouting him and his affiliation with Liverpool made the Reds the obvious choice. The other clubs actually didn’t think they had a chance. What did MK Dons want for their young star? Five million pounds.

A deal! A bargain! A future England star for the same price Liverpool paid Juventus for Christian effin’ Poulsen. Hooray!

Except we ballsed it up. Thinking they had all the leverage, the transfer committee led by chief ‘negotiator’ Ian Ayre tried to lower the price to £4.5 million.

The Dons weren’t having it. Spurs were the quickest to react and bid the asking price. Alli was pissed off by the Reds incompetence and went to White Hart Lane. All over 500k; a pittance to a Premier League football club.

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