Liverpool have been involved in some of football's most dramatic transfer sagas, but not all have ended with a player in a red shirt. From collapsed deals to last-minute U-turns, the Reds have missed out on several high-profile targets over the years.
Nabil Fekir: The collapse that sparked controversy
Perhaps the most infamous failed transfer in recent Liverpool history is the breakdown of Nabil Fekir's move to Anfield in 2018. The Frenchman had undergone a medical ahead of a £53 million switch from Lyon and had agreed personal terms before the Reds pulled out of the deal.
The attacking midfielder had even posed for promotional photographs with the club, who insisted their decision was due to a knee cartilage issue. Fekir dismissed the explanation as a lie and rejected claims from his then-agent that his brother-in-law tried to secure a cut from the transfer.
"Lots of lies were told, and they affected me," Fekir told L'Equipe in 2019. "Especially those told about my family. It hurt them and me. Especially when you know that what's being told is false."
Gareth Barry: The midfielder who chose City
Liverpool's pursuit of Gareth Barry began in the summer of 2008. Rafael Benitez had identified the Aston Villa captain as the ideal replacement for Xabi Alonso, who had endured an injury-disrupted campaign. However, the Reds fell short of Villa's £18 million valuation, forcing Barry to stay.
A year later, Liverpool returned, but their persistent interest prompted Alonso to join Real Madrid. It proved a double setback as Barry chose Manchester City over Anfield. Reflecting on his decision, Barry told Birmingham Live's Claret and Blue podcast: "Something appealed to me more about Man City than Liverpool at the time."
Arda Turan: A six-year link that never materialised
Arda Turan was repeatedly linked with Liverpool between 2009 and 2015. The speculation started during his time at Galatasaray, but it was Atletico Madrid who signed him in 2011. Despite reports that Turan grew up watching Liverpool and his father supported the club, he never joined.
Instead, he moved to Barcelona in 2015 and retired in 2022 with Galatasaray.
Simao Sabrosa: The deal that fell apart at the airport
In the summer of 2005, Simao Sabrosa came close to joining Liverpool. A reported £10 million deal had been struck with Benfica, and Simao even left Portugal's training camp to undergo a medical. But Benfica's president pulled the plug.
Simao recounted to Liverpoolfc.com: "The president of Benfica called and said, 'We don't have a deal, you don't have permission to fly, so you need to stay.'" He decided to stay, and the move never happened.
Julian Draxler: The World Cup winner who chose PSG
Julian Draxler was linked to Liverpool from his early days at Schalke. Brendan Rodgers reportedly made a personal trip to watch him, and later Jurgen Klopp was eager to bring his compatriot to Anfield. But Draxler opted to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
He has since admitted to wondering what might have been. "I've also wondered what would have happened if I hadn't gone from Wolfsburg to Paris, but to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. I had that opportunity, too," he told BILD.
