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Tag: Jeremy Doku

  • Jeremy Doku met Jurgen Klopp and offered Mohamed Salah a shirt -but Sadio Mane seemed to dissuade him from joining Liverpool.

    Jeremy Doku met Jurgen Klopp and offered Mohamed Salah a shirt -but Sadio Mane seemed to dissuade him from joining Liverpool.

    Jeremy Doku met Jurgen Klopp and offered Mohamed Salah a shirt -but Sadio Mane seemed to dissuade him from joining Liverpool.
    Five years ago Jurgen Klopp thought he would sign Jeremy Doku as a possible replacement for Sadio Mane – but the ex-Liverpool star has succumbed to the decision.

    And now the Reds boss has to deal with the Belgian winger who is set to move to Manchester City.

    talkSPORT understands the 21-year-old is on his way to the Etihad after agreeing a £55million transfer fee with Rennes.

    However, it was Liverpool who were the first to secure his services as it looked like they had beaten Arsenal and Chelsea to move Anderlecht forward in 2018.

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    After being allowed to speak to the then 15-year-old, Doku was given a tour of the club’s former training ground in Melwood. He also spoke to boss Klopp and then Under-18 manager Steven Gerrard, and was even given a signed shirt by Mohamed Salah.

    But it was an interview with Mane, whose place he would take in the future, that convinced him to stay at Anderlecht.

    Speaking to Ouest-France in 2021, Doku said of the proposed transfer: “My 16th birthday was approaching, the age where you can sign a professional contract.

    Jeremy Doku met Jurgen Klopp and offered Mohamed Salah a shirt -but Sadio Mane seemed to dissuade him from joining Liverpool.

    “Many teams came to me: Liverpool had the most concrete interest, but there were also Arsenal and Chelsea.

    “I went with my mom and dad and we got a tour of the stadium, the training ground and even the school I was going to. “They gave me a shirt autographed by Salah and I got to know the players.

    “I had the chance to consult with Jurgen and also with Gerrard, we watched some video moments and he talked about the development.

    “We met players, [Simon] Mignolet because he was Belgian, [Georginio] Wijnaldum from Holland.

    “I talked a lot with Mane, but we didn’t really talk about football. We talked about everything. “He told me that I was young, that I still had time…he didn’t want to convince me or tell me: ‘Come here, you will succeed.’”

    Doku added: “I preferred to be careful. I know what my trajectory should have been like.

    “That’s why I said to myself at 15 that it was serious because I saw my career. I know where to go and at that moment I knew that I had to stay at Anderlecht.

    “Whenever people ask me if I regret it I always say no because if Liverpool came to me when I was 15 and they love me they will come back later for sure.” It’s up to me to play well.”

    The 16-capped international finally joined Rennes in 2020 for a club record fee of £25.5m, scoring 12 goals in 91 appearances in all competitions for the French side.

     

  • How Sadio Mané cost Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool a contract for Jeremy Doku has been made public.

    How Sadio Mané cost Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool a contract for Jeremy Doku has been made public.

    Sadio Mané may have cost Liverpool a chance to sign Jeremy Doku at a price lower than that agreed between Rennes and rivals Manchester City.
    As rivals Manchester City agree on a £55m deal to sign the 21-year-old Rennes winger.

    Sadio Mané may have cost Liverpool a chance to sign Jeremy Doku at a price lower than that agreed between Rennes and rivals Manchester City.

    Mail Sport revealed yesterday that Pep Guardiola’s side have accepted a £55million offer for the 21-year-old.

    Doku is currently one of the most exciting youngsters in Europe and has attracted interest from several top clubs including Tottenham, City, West Ham and Liverpool.

    A graduate of Anderlecht academy, he is currently plying his trade with Ligue 1 club Rennes, having joined the France squad in 2020 and scoring six goals in 29 league appearances last season.

    But the deal could be a blow to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who would have been lucky enough to sign him for a hundredth of the price Man City would pay for him when the winger was 15.

    Jeremy Doku (pictured) reportedly turned down the chance to join Liverpool after being dissuaded to join the club by Sadio Mane
    Jeremy Doku (pictured) reportedly turned down the chance to join Liverpool after being dissuaded to join the club by Sadio Mane

     

    Jeremy Doku (pictured) reportedly turned down the chance to join Liverpool after being dissuaded to join the club by Sadio Mane

    But according to Doku, a conversation with Sadio Mane (pictured) may have convinced him not to join the Reds

    The winger had received permission from his former club Anderlecht to travel from Belgium to Merseyside to meet Klopp and several of the team’s players.

    One such was Sadio Mane, who recently left the club for Bayern Munich and then moved to new pastures, joining Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

    Had Doku decided to join Liverpool, he could have inherited Mane’s position on the wing, but the Senegalese international could have urged the Belgian international not to join.

    According to The Mirror, Klopp was very eager to bring the winger to the club and was willing to pay Anderlecht £500,000 in compensation for him.

    In an effort to persuade him to join the Reds, while many other Premier League clubs surrounded the young talent, the German introduced him to some of the club’s best players, trying to convince Doku that Liverpool were the right team for him. “I was approaching my 16th birthday, the age where you can sign a professional contract,” Doku told Ouest-France.

    “Many teams came to me, Liverpool was the most concrete interest, but there were also Arsenal and Chelsea.

    “I went [to Liverpool] with my mum and dad and we got a tour of the stadium, the training ground and even the school I was going to. They gave me a signed Salah shirt and I met the players.

    Jeremy Doku (pictured) reportedly turned down the chance to join Liverpool after being dissuaded to join the club by Sadio Mane
    “I was able to consult with Jurgen, also Gerrard, we watched some video moments and he talked about the development. “We met players, (Simon) Mignolet because he was Belgian, [Georginio] Wijnaldum from the Netherlands.”

    At the time, he spoke to Mane, who, according to him, didn’t hesitate to convince him to join the Reds, suggesting instead that he should continue to develop at Anderlecht in the Belgian Pro League.

    “I talked a lot with Mané, but we didn’t really talk about football. We talked about everything,” continued the Belgian.

    “He told me I was young, that I still had time…he didn’t try to convince me or tell me ‘come here, you’ll make it’.”

    “So I preferred to be careful,” he added.

    “I knew what my trajectory had to be. I knew where to go and at that moment I knew I had to stay in Anderlecht.

    Interestingly, things worked out pretty well for the young star, who at 21 had already won 14 caps for the Belgian senior side and made his Anderlecht debut aged 16.

    Former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has also praised the winger in the past, calling him ‘extraordinary talent’.

    He then joined Rennes from Anderlecht in a deal worth around £22.5m and it appears he has no regrets at not joining the Premier League club in the future. 15 years old.

    “As soon as they ask me if I have any regrets [not going to Liverpool],” Doku added, “I always say no because if Liverpool came to see me at 15 and they liked me, they would.” Come back later, that’s for sure. It’s up to me to play well.

    It looks like he may have turned down a move to Liverpool but he could now be in line for a move to Manchester City as Guardiola’s side see him as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez.

    Share or comment on this article: REVEALED: How Sadio Mane ‘cost Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool a deal for Jeremy Doku’ as rivals Manchester City agree £55m package to sign 21-year-old Rennes winger years

     

  • Chelsea hijack £51.3m Man City’s bid for excellence Michael Olise replacement, compared to Eden Hazard

    Chelsea hijack £51.3m Man City’s bid for excellence Michael Olise replacement, compared to Eden Hazard

    Chelsea hijack £51.3m Man City's bid for excellence Michael Olise replacement, compared to Eden Hazard
    Chelsea are looking for a right-winger who can also play as an attacking midfielder but has less than two weeks to sign a contract

    Chelsea still appear to be looking for a right winger who could also play as an attacking midfielder after Michael Olise turned down a move to Stamford Bridge. The 21-year-old playmaker has already been heavily linked with a move to west London and, at the height of interest from the Blues, decided to sign a new long-term contract at Crystal Palace.

    football.london understand that Chelsea were once confident of securing Olise’s signature. After talks with those close to the France Under-21 international, the two sides verbally agreed on personal terms before paying his release clause.

    Joe Shields is understood to have played a leading role in the negotiations, having recently played a key role in bringing Romeo Lavia to the Cobham training ground. However, despite the Blues’ best efforts, Palace capitalized on interest in Olise and tied him up in extra time at Selhurst Park.

    Chelsea now have less than two weeks to sign an alternative and Mauricio Pochettino has a few names in his shortlist. football.london understands the club remain interested in Mohammed Kudus and Rayan Cherki, with Brennan Johnson a late goal.

    Chelsea hijack £51.3m Man City's bid for excellence Michael Olise replacement, compared to Eden Hazard
    However, according to French outlet L’Équipe, Chelsea are interested in Rennes’ Jeremy Doku. According to the report, Manchester City are currently leading the race for the 21-year-old winger, who has been identified by Pep Guardiola as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez. L’Équipe add that Rennes are reportedly ready to sell Doku this summer for around €60m (£51.4m). The Belgium international, whose contract at Roazhon Park expires in 2025, made 29 appearances for the French side in Ligue 1 last season, contributing directly to eight goals.

    Doku started the new season in excellent form, scoring a goal against Metz on the opening weekend. His impressive performances and low center of gravity have earned him comparisons to Eden Hazard.

    In a Facebook Live video with La Tribune for RTBF, former Premier League star Phillipe Albert explained why he would be a great addition to the English top flight. He said: “He has incredible qualities which were discovered at Anderlecht, but he has been injured a lot in the last two or three seasons.”

    “He’s a young talent who left for over €20m (£17m), so Rennes would accept an offer of €60m (£51m). I think the walk is not too far away, he has the qualities to win.” Premier League or any World Cup.

    “If he is 100% physically, he will assert himself and repel opponents. It’s a bit like Eden Hazard at the start of his career with his double, triple accelerations which can hurt a lot.” “In England some teams are still a little naive at this level so it would hurt. He can play both sides, but I always believe that a player has to play on the right foot, so I would put him on the right foot. The role. The job of a winger is also to take care of the striker. So if you have the right player, there is no better player at this level.”

     

  • Liverpool transfer news recap – Kylian Mbappe claims, Khephren Thuram declines, Federico Valverde offers €90 million

    Liverpool transfer news recap – Kylian Mbappe claims, Khephren Thuram declines, Federico Valverde offers €90 million


    Liverpool transfer news, rumors, gossip and speculation, including the latest developments on Federico Valverde, Victor Osimhen, Jeremy Doku, Khephren Thuram, Ryan Gravenberch, Jurgen Klopp, Nicolo Barella, Micky van de Ven and more

    Liverpool are ready to take the next step in rebuilding their midfield following the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month. Absence from Champions League football did not stop Mac Allister from moving to Merseyside. The Argentine World Cup winner has signed a five-year deal at Anfield.

    In today’s news, Liverpool have reportedly suffered a major transfer shock while OGC Nice are reportedly looking to keep midfielder Khephren Thuram for another season. While Chelsea would be “on the verge of investigating the Napoli attacker”, as reported by France. Send your thoughts to @LivEchoLFC and don’t forget to subscribe to our free Liverpool FC newsletter, our YouTube channel and listen to our Blood Red podcast – featuring all your favorite ECHO regulars including Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Theo Squires, Tom Cavilla, Keifer MacDonald and Charlotte Coates.

    Brighton retain interest in the man Liverpool admire

    According to Alex Crook, TalkSport’s chief football correspondent, Brighton and Hove Albion maintain their interest in young Chelsea defender Levi Colwill.
    Last month, ECHO reported the Reds’ admiration for the 20-year-old as they stepped up their search for a defender, just days before the Seagulls saw a £30m bid from Chelsea rejected. At first it was suggested that Brighton would return with a club-record offer of £40million, but that never materialized. Despite this, they maintained their interest, while Liverpool kept their cards close to their chest.
    To dash the hopes and dreams of both clubs, new Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino apparently wants to keep Colwill next season.

    Salah wins Reds Goal of the Season

    Mohamed Salah’s winning goal in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield last October was voted the club’s goal of the season.

    A forgettable campaign was littered with many memorable moments, this being one of them. From Alisson’s impeccable ball over the top to Joao Cancelo’s Salah breakthrough and finishing past Ederson, it was a truly superb goal against the champion-elect.

    Liverpool ‘Weiper eye’

    Liverpool have reportedly been tracking Mainz youngster Nelson Weiper for the past two years.
    That’s according to German publication BILD, via Sport Witness, which reports that “new demands keep coming” for the player as he continues to impress in the Bundesliga.
    The report goes on to say that Liverpool have been “very keen” on Weiper for “more than two years” and have already wanted to “lure” him to Anfield.

    Former Liverpool defender Max Thompson has died

    Former Liverpool defender Max Thompson, the Reds’ youngest player at 36, has died aged 66.

    Legendary manager Bill Shankly handed the youngster his debut against Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the 1973-74 season aged 17 years and 129 days, in Scotland’s iconic final season in charge.

    In a tribute, the club said: “Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former player Max Thompson.
    “Thompson, once the youngest ever player for the Reds, has sadly passed away at the age of 66.

    The Liverpool-born defender joined the club as a trainee before securing a professional contract.
    Aged 17 years and 129 days, Thompson got his senior debut from Bill Shankly with a start in the last game of the 1973-74 season, a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur.

    “That club record would stand until May 2010 when Jack Robinson appeared in a Premier League match for Hull City aged 16.”

    Phillips has been linked to Man United

    Manchester United are reportedly preparing to stun Pep Guardiola with a transfer offer for midfielder Kalvin Phillips. According to Spanish publication Fichajes, United boss Erik ten Haag has given the green light to the transfer and is confident he can get the most out of the England star who has struggled to establish himself at Man City.

    A fee of around £35m was reportedly paid, which is £10m less than Man City sent to Leeds last summer. The England international was linked with a move to Liverpool in April.

    Rabiot extends his stay at Juve

    Adrien Rabiot has extended his stay at Juventus after agreeing a new one-year contract with the club.
    The French midfielder’s contract expired in the summer but he signed for another year with the Italian giants in a bid to end speculation over his future.

    Manchester United have been heavily linked to Rabiot, with Liverpool also mentioned as a possible destination in previous reports.
    The 28-year-old joined Juventus in 2019 after leaving PSG.

    Doku ‘remains in Liverpool’s sights’


    Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is said to be on Liverpool’s radar after emerging as a target for the Reds in 2018.

    The youngster was offered a tour of Melwood and Anfield as a teenager in a bid to get him to join the club. A move was not forthcoming, but according to a report from L’Equipe, the Belgian star remains ‘in Liverpool’s sights’.

    The article adds that Doku’s future at Rennes is “not certain” due to recent transfer speculation, with the player’s contract due to expire in two years.

    Leeds are “interested” in Phillips

    Leeds United would consider a transfer for Nat Phillips on a permanent basis.
    The 26-year-old made just five appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s first team last season and has been close to leaving the club on more than one occasion.

    What Liverpool will do with the defender this summer remains to be seen, although the Athletic have reported that Leeds are interested in signing Phillips.

    Burnley finalize deal for ex-Liverpool goalkeeper

    Burnley have finalized the signing of former Liverpool goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.
    Vigouroux left the Reds in 2016 after zero first team appearances to sign for Swindon Town and has since built a solid reputation in the EFL.

    Last season he kept 24 clean sheets in the Second Division and helped Leyton Orient win the title. After his contract expired in the summer, he is now back in the Premier League.

    Liverpool are ready for a €90m bid for Valverde

    Liverpool have reportedly set aside €90m (£77m) for the services of Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.

    After Jude Bellingham’s arrival in the summer and the signing of new contracts for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, the Uruguayan is a ‘main candidate’ to leave Los Blancos this summer.

    It comes after a recent report from Spain, which said Liverpool were ready to pay £77million for Valverde, an offer the La Liga giants would be ‘very hard to refuse’.

    The report adds that Carlo Ancelotti’s side will ‘weigh the pros and cons’ of keeping Valverde, which could be used as a ‘sacrifice’ to fund a Kylian Mbappe deal.

    Bayern make €70m bid for Kane

    It turns out that Bayern Munich have made a €70m offer for Harry Kane. This promises to be an interesting transfer saga…

    The Firmino affair is heading towards the final stage

    Roberto Firmino’s deal to join Al-Ahli, a Saudi team, is entering its final stages, it is suggested.

    The Liverpool forward will officially become a free agent at the end of the month and will likely have to weigh up a number of offers as he prepares to choose his next club.

    Yesterday it seemed that Saudi Arabia could be his next destination and Fabrizio Romano declared that he had a ‘three-year contract’ on the table. He adds that the final details are being discussed before the “green light”. Statement by Kylian Mbappé

    Liverpool are set to rival Real Madrid over the signing of Kylian Mbappe this summer, it is said.

    The Reds have previously been hinted at as a possible destination for the PSG star, who has long been sought after by Madrid.

    Mbappé is expected to become the world’s most expensive player if he leaves his current employers, with the Ligue 1 giants holding on for a significant fee.

    A latest update on the French international has suggested Liverpool have not given up hope of a deal for Mbappé, as FIFA agent Marco Kirdemuir clarified.

    Speaking to Radio Marca, Kirdemuir insisted Liverpool were “riding competition against Real Madrid” before adding that the 24-year-old could receive an offer of up to €300m (£257m). Gravenberch outlines Bayern’s plan

    Ryan Gravenberch has admitted he still expects to be at Bayern Munich next season.

    The Dutch midfielder is a target for Liverpool alongside Gabri Veiga and Khephren Thuram and could make a move this summer after a frustrating first season in Germany.

    Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, he clarified his future and said: “I guess I will be at Bayern Munich again next season.

    “That’s really how I am. I’m at one of the top three clubs in the world.” I think it’s beautiful and special. I don’t give up like that. My goal remains to succeed at FC Bayern.

    Nice want to keep Thuram

    Nice Khephren Thuram does not plan to sell this summer.
    Liverpool are interested in the French midfielder who is currently representing his country at the European Under-21 Championship.

    A recent player update from Nice Matin via GFFN made it clear that Nice would like to keep Thuram, despite speculation over his future. The player ‘doesn’t want to worry about the future of his club’ until he returns from the national team, a decision believed to have been made by his father and 1998 World Cup winner Lilian

    Williams set to leave Liverpool on loan

    Rhys Williams is set to leave Liverpool on loan again this summer.

    ECHO understands that several clubs are interested in the 22-year-old, but Aberdeen are currently leading the charge for his signature.

    Liverpool have close ties with the Scottish Premiership club and were impressed with the ease with which they were dealt with when Calvin Ramsay’s transfer to Anfield was discussed last summer. Meanwhile, both clubs were pleased with the success of Leighton Clarkson’s loan move to the Dons last season.

    Clarkson has since moved permanently to Aberdeen and Williams could now follow in his former teammate’s footsteps at Pittodrie.