Klopp's secret meeting with Man Utd star's agent in January transfer window

31 January 2024 , 11:43

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp held transfer talks in January 2023 (Image: Daily Mirror)

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp held a secret meeting with Sofyan Amrabat's agent back in January 2023 before the Morocco international agreed terms with Manchester United in the summer instead.

Klopp was in the market for midfielders at the time and drew up a shortlist of possible signings including Amrabat, Romeo Lavia, Ryan Gravenberch and Kalvin Phillips. Jude Bellingham had been at the top of his list but the German quickly identified alternatives after it became clear the England international was destined for Real Madrid.

Amrabat had just impressed with Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar around the time Klopp made contact with his agent, and several clubs were showing interest in signing him, including United and Barcelona.

But the midfielder would have to wait until the following summer to get his move - with Erik ten Hag's previous relationship with Amrabat, from managing him at Utrecht, working to the Dutchman's advantage.

Klopp moved on from the snub, attempting to sign Southampton's Romeo Lavia and Brighton's Moises Caicedo with both midfielders rejecting Liverpool for Chelsea.

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Ryan Gravenberch was signed from Bayern Munich with Klopp also strengthening his ranks with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

The signings have hit the ground running at Liverpool, with the Anfield giants currently top of the table and on course to win a second Premier League title.

Sofyan Amrabat has struggled to set the world alight at Manchester United (Lewis Storey)

Meanwhile, Amrabat's fortunes have not gone the same way with the midfielder initially struggling with an injury at Old Trafford and then failing to set the world alight. The 27-year-old was also sent off last time out as Afcon favourites Morocco crashed out of the tournament at the hands of South Africa.

Klopp recently spoke out about trying and failing to sign midfield targets in the summer following his chat with Amrabat's agent months earlier but snubbed mentioning the Moroccan.

"We were interested in Bellingham, realised it would not happen and we thought we could maybe do Caicedo so went in... [but] he had an emotional agreement already with Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino," admitted Klopp. "Then Lavia had his own reasons - so we were there. Then we found our top solution."

He added: "We found Wataru [Endo], we already knew Macca [Mac Allister] could play the position and Dom [Szoboszlai] was always on my radar. If one of the £100million [signings] had worked, there's no chance to do another. That's what I meant when I said we are so lucky. Everything in the 'if not scenario' worked out."

Jake Polden