Liverpool miss free signing Jurgen Klopp knew from Dortmund

Liverpool has missed out on a free signing that Jurgen Klopp knew from his Dortmund days and was interested in bringing to Anfield.

The Athletic reported that the Reds had some interest in signing ageing Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos on a free transfer.

However, the 32-year-old has joined Olympiacos after Arsenal released him this month. Sokratis had played just once this season and was clearly surplus to requirements in London, but could he have done a job in Merseyside?

Klopp would have had his work cut out for him getting the centre-back to full match fitness, especially given his lack of competitive minutes and the style that Liverpool like to play.

Even on a one-year deal, this could have made sense. Sokratis could have taken the next month to get up to speed, and it would have then allowed Fabinho or Jordan Henderson to rejoin the midfield on a more permanent basis.

There’s no guarantee that Sokratis could have played regularly or would have matched with what Liverpool need from a central defender, but right now anything could be better than nothing.

If he stopped Rhys Williams being hopelessly exposed again – through no fault of his own – then it would be considered a win.

Sokratis has had an interesting career so far. Genoa signed him from AEK Athens in 2008 for £3.42 million, before Milan brought him to the San Siro two years later.

That move didn’t really work out and Genoa signed him back just 12 months later, only for Sokratis to move to Werder Bremen on loan in the same window. That Werder move was made permanent a year later.

After a season in the Bundesliga, Dortmund swooped for the man and signed Sokratis for £8.91 million in 2013 – which is when Klopp worked with the Greek international.

Arsenal decided they liked what they saw and signed Sokratis in 2018, and he played 69 times for the Gunners before his release.

Other Liverpool transfer news

In other Liverpool transfer news, Klopp looks set to beat Pep Guardiola to an exciting talent. Meanwhile, Manchester United appear to be defeated in the race to bring a Derby County starlet to their side. He prefers Liverpool.