5 most embarrassing Liverpool transfer debacles of all time
By David Gate
No.3: Clint Dempsey
You might have expected to see Virgil van Dijk on this list. Last year Liverpool had convinced the Dutch captain to join from Southampton. They had permission to talk to the player and a basic fee had been agreed.
The optics were very important. Southampton did not want to piss off their fan base by selling another player to Liverpool easily or cheaply; especially their club captain. Despite all that the transfer was going through. That was until the Reds started leaking info about the deal – mainly in a ploy to encourage Liverpool fans who were hungry for a defensive signing.
The deal was off and Liverpool were accused of tapping up before paying an additional £15 million in January to get him. A debacle no doubt – but Liverpool had been there before with Clint Dempsey; except that was worse.
Rodgers was desperate to bring Dempsey to Anfield in the summer of 2012 as one of his first signings. The Reds thought they had sealed the deal – even announcing on the official website that he would join.
But a deal had not been agreed. They had only offered £3 million when Fulham wanted £7 million. They then tried to include future Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in the deal. Fulham reported Liverpool to the Premier League and the Reds issued a groveling apology.
This one ticks all the boxes; cheapskate, tapping up, pissing off the player, getting rid of a great talent, leaking the news. A classic transfer cluster from Liverpool Football Club.