Liverpool's recent transfer dealings have been marred by high-profile failures, including moves for Marc Guehi, Moises Caicedo, Nabil Fekir, and Dani Alves. As the club prepares for a summer overhaul under new manager Andoni Iraola, these past collapses serve as cautionary tales.
Marc Guehi's Last-Minute Collapse
In the closing weeks of the 2025 summer transfer window, Liverpool pursued Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk. Palace agreed to a reduced £35m fee with Guehi having one year left on his contract. The defender completed his medical, but then-Palace manager Oliver Glasner was infuriated by the sale. When a corresponding move for Brighton's Igor Julio collapsed, the deal was abandoned. Guehi later joined Manchester City in January 2026.
Moises Caicedo Chooses Chelsea
In August 2023, after losing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, Liverpool desperately needed a midfield leader and identified Brighton's Moises Caicedo. The Reds submitted a British record £111m bid, which was accepted. Jurgen Klopp even announced the deal was done in a press conference. However, Caicedo had promised Chelsea months earlier that he would join them. He declined to travel to Liverpool for a medical, eventually signing for Chelsea for £115m. Liverpool then signed Wataru Endo as a replacement.
Nabil Fekir's Aborted Transfer
Five years before the Caicedo saga, Nabil Fekir appeared destined to become a Liverpool player. The Lyon captain, then a World Cup-bound France international, travelled to Liverpool, completed his medical, selected a shirt number, and signed the contract. Official media was finished, but at the final moment the deal fell through. Initial reports cited concerns over a knee problem, but Fekir later blamed his agent. The precise reason remains unclear. Fekir subsequently joined Real Betis, and later played for Al Jazira in the UAE Pro League. He is currently without a club.
Dani Alves: A Missed Opportunity
In 2006, following Liverpool's 2005 Champions League triumph, manager Rafa Benitez targeted Sevilla right-back Dani Alves as a transformative signing. Personal terms were agreed, but Sevilla wanted £8m. Liverpool's hierarchy refused to pay, instead spending £6.7m on Jermaine Pennant. Alves remained at Sevilla for two more seasons, winning back-to-back UEFA Cups, before joining Barcelona in 2008. He went on to play for Juventus and PSG, finishing his career with 43 trophies.
These failed transfers highlight the challenges Liverpool has faced in the market. As they seek to rebuild under Iraola after a fifth-place Premier League finish, the club will be keen to avoid repeating past mistakes.
