Report claims Liverpool ‘tried’ to sign Chelsea midfielder before transfer deadline

Joe Williams
Liverpool target Denis Zakaria points instructions to his team-mates

Liverpool attempted to sign new Chelsea midfielder Denis Zakaria on deadline day before sealing a move for Arthur, according to reports.

Jurgen Klopp accepted that they needed another body in midfield before the end of the transfer window with Arthur joining from Juventus on loan until the end of the season.

Their mixed start to the new season and injuries to a number of players saw Liverpool act on deadline day and they were in for Zakaria before he agreed to join Chelsea.


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Sky Sport Italy reporter Gianluca Di Marzio insisted that Liverpool ‘tried’ to sign Zakaria – who joined Chelsea on a loan until the end of the season – before the window shut.

Speaking on Friday, Thomas Tuchel revealed why Chelsea brought in Zakaria, he said: “This was an option that came in very late. It was related not to the numbers that we should have in midfield but the numbers that we actually have.

“We have Kova [Mateo Kovacic], who had knee problems over the last weeks. He’ll hopefully make it without surgery and will be available right now but he was a little bit on the edge of surgery.

“N’Golo Kante is struggling and suddenly Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a hamstring injury that could have cost us some games. Fortunately he is available this weekend but this was the situation so this was more or less a last-minute option.

“He gives us a lot of options because he has speed, height and physicality to bring to this group. He can play in the back-three and I think he can play even in a back-four. He can play both positions in the midfield and maybe even wing-back because he’s fast enough and has the volume.”

Despite his poor injury record, Liverpool boss Klopp is looking forward to Arthur playing for his side for the remainder of the season.

“He’s a really good footballer, I think we all agree on that,” Klopp said. “He’s had a very exciting career already and he’s still pretty young. He’s coming into the best age for a footballer.

“He can give rhythm, he’s a really good passer of the ball, has speed with the ball, is safe on the ball, and can demand rhythm, which is pretty important, really good in tight areas and all these kinds of things, so I like it a lot.

“Why can you loan a player like this? Because it didn’t work out 100 percent at Juventus, but I see it as a positive because the potential is for sure still there.

“We play obviously a different to Juve and we all thought that could fit pretty well, so that’s why I’m pleased.”